Niko Zurita ’10 (BUS) remembers how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, almost every human resource executive in America tried to arrange a “Virtual Happy Hour” in an effort to keep employees connected.

And while it was better than nothing, those end-of-the-workday gatherings, conducted through a computer monitor, were clearly no substitute for an in-person event, Zurita says.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the number of fully remote companies has grown 400%. And though their employees may be on different coasts, or even different continents, their need for connectedness, strategic brainstorming, and strong teamwork hasn’t diminished.

Vamos Seeks to Solve Vexing Business-Connection Challenge

That flourishing, remote-business dynamic created the perfect opportunity for a startup to fill a void in the business-travel industry. And Zurita, an HR expert who comes from a family of entrepreneurs, jumped right in.

Zurita is the founder and CEO of Vamos, a corporate-travel platform designed for remote teams. Using machine-learning algorithms it can recommend cities, hotels, and activities tailored to the needs of a company and its individual employees. Vamos offers a combination of cost savings and meeting customization.

“People say to us, ‘So you’re like Expedia?’” Zurita says. “No, we’re not like that at all. We fill a very unique niche and we’re solving problems that haven’t been solved before.”

Vamos is one of five UConn-affiliated startups competing in the Wolff New Venture Competition on Oct. 1 in downtown Hartford. Now in its ninth year, the event is the School of Business’ pinnacle entrepreneurship challenge. The competition will award more than $70,000 in prize money to its finalists, with the first-place finisher receiving a $30,000 check.

 ‘Is There Anything to Do in Syracuse?’

Zurita recently worked at a remote company where the executives wanted to meet quarterly and the employees wanted to meet every six months, with the option to schedule individual team meetings when needed. The company was spending upwards of $25,000 a month to fly people to New York City from across the nation. He knew there had to be a better way.

“You can burn through a lot of money doing that,’’ Zurita says. “With Vamos, we’ve found a way to pull people together, save the company money, and create the best and most productive time together.’’

Many companies select meeting sites based on a central location, but Zurita doesn’t believe that is the best approach. Vamos explores the needs of the customers and matches those with locations and activities based on robust city profiles, that include things like nature scores, co-working accessibility, and even restaurant variety.

“We focus on experience, but are able to cover cost savings, too,’’ he says. “For instance, we found that one company could delay a conference in Tampa by one week and save thousands.’’

Vamos can also arrange the appropriate type of gathering. If a team wants a welcoming conference room and great meals, that can be arranged. If an executive team wants to get together to celebrate a milestone accomplishment, the trip might be quite different, with more lavish entertainment or travel to an exotic location or a world-renowned golf course. Vamos offers five recommendations with matching pricing.

Zurita’s Passion is ‘All Things People and Talent’

Zurita graduated from the School of Business in 2010 with an individualized major in labor relations. He later earned an MBA from Post University. His family ran a talent-acquisition business when he was growing up, and he inherited a fondness for both people and the career path, particularly company culture and employee motivation.

Through his career, Zurita has worked for companies large and small, traditional and startups, and in industries ranging from behavioral health to tech. From his previous experiences, he was able to draw some of the best and brightest to help grow Vamos.

Vamos Seeks to Scale Quickly

Recognized as one of the most promising UConn-affiliated startups, Vamos received an invitation to the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation’s prestigious Summer Fellowship Accelerator this year. The eight-week, intensive program offers $15,000 in non-dilutive funding, mentorship, workshops and pro-bono services to prepare early-stage companies to grow.

“CCEI was incredibly helpful, and catered to the diversity of all the teams, whether student, faculty, or alumni,’’ he says. “I think the biggest take-away for us was improving our business pitch. We tended to be hyperfocused.’’

Zurita says his biggest surprise is that he’s been able to convince so many talented industry experts—including UConn alumnus and Chief Product Officer Luciano Diaz ’08; Matt Larson, his former Chief Technology Officer; and two engineering experts to join him in his business. “Every day I am amazed that I have the privilege to build a company with so many incredibly talented people,’’ Zurita says.

All five company employees are working other full-time jobs. If they win the Wolff prize, that would allow their engineer/designer to work full-time for Vamos. The company’s next step will also be to increase its marketing and grow its client base.

Although his grandfather, father, and sister are all entrepreneurs, Zurita says he isn’t sure he saw himself in that role. But now there is no question that he owns the title.

“I enjoy being busy. I thrive in chaos…that’s why I have four kids under seven,’’ he says, laughing. “Work has always been my hobby. I really enjoy solving problems and always learning new things.’’

The Wolff New Venture Competition will be held on Oct. 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the YG Club at Dunkin Park in Hartford. The event is free to attend and all are welcome. Please pre-register at https://ccei.uconn.edu/wolff-new-venture-competition.

New this year, a startup showcase is being added alongside the pitch competition. Thirty UConn startups will exhibit their technologies, products and services and compete for $45,000 in funding. Attendees will be able to purchase items from the startups that sell consumer products. Among those in attendance will be: Feel Your Best Self, which helps young children develop emotional-coping strategies; Growler Power, a portable growler that extends the shelf life of beer and other beverages; and SedMed,a toilet-lift assist device for the elderly and disabled.

The Wolff New Venture Competition is supported thanks to the generosity of the Wolff Family Fund for Strategic Entrepreneurship, as well as wiggin(x), Santander, Sardilli Produce and Dairy, Prime Materials Recovery Inc., Webster Bank, Fiondella, Milone and LaSaracina CPAs, Baystate Financial, Mark and Jamie Summers, Revyrie, Digital Surgeons and Event Resources.