James Whelton, the co-founder of international coding clubhouse CoderDojo, has joined Triperna. com, a fast-growing Middle East travel booking site as chief technology officer.
Triperna's chief executive and co-founder is Paul Kenny, who previously founded Dubai-headquartered daily deals site Cobone, which was sold for an estimated €30 million to Tiger Global, a New York- based investment fund in 2013.
Mr Whelton, who was named among the 30 under-30 social entrepreneurs to watch out for by Forbes magazine in 2012, expanded CoderDojo to more than 400 club houses in 45 countries before he stepped down as chief executive this year. He remains a director of the foundation of the popular movement, which teaches thousands of children how to code.
Mr Whelton said he first visited Mr Kenny in Dubai in March and was excited by the opportunity of working with Triperna.
“There is a different culture building technology in the Middle East. We want to use methodologies that are more like Silicon Valley. But there are incredible opportunities in the Middle East.”
Mr Kenny said the online travel market in the Middle East and North Africa was estimated at $35 billion but it remained underdeveloped.
“Ninety per cent of holidays are paid for in cash. Not many people are using the internet to pay so it’s a huge opportunity.”
He said Triperna was being backed in its plans by Tiger and the site, since launching six months ago, was growing by 50 per cent a month.
