Hyperfunnel's Voice AI Targets Cruise Sales on Samsung Smart TVs
Miami-based Hyperfunnel is launching a voice AI travel advisor on Samsung smart TVs this summer, giving cruise lines a new way to reach potential customers. The technology will power the travel section of klyq, a shopping app arriving on 100 million Samsung TVs as a home screen fixture alongside content for golf, spirits, and food.
For cruise lines, the deal offers precision targeting. Suppliers can buy placement on the Samsung home screen and reach specific household types or people who've shown interest in certain content. The AI agent then guides prospects through research and booking without requiring them to navigate traditional search filters.
How the Commercial Model Works
Hyperfunnel charges a 7.5% commission on bookings-significantly lower than typical online travel agency rates. All consumer data goes directly to the cruise line, and reservations flow into their own systems, meaning they count as direct bookings.
Founder Ashwin Kamlani said the model is "more profitable than anything that's out there." He's focusing on cruises first because they represent "the highest friction category with the highest upside." Cruise bookings involve complex decisions and multiple back-and-forth exchanges-exactly where AI can reduce friction.
A Different Search Experience
Today's cruise websites typically start with date, ship, port, or itinerary. Hyperfunnel's voice AI flips that approach. A first-time cruiser who loves wine can ask which cruises have the best wine lists. The AI asks "What is important to you?" and narrows options from there, rather than forcing users to filter through hundreds of choices manually.
Kamlani compared the shift to how travel worked 30 years ago: "You can actually have a conversation and say what you want and eliminate the work of having to filter through hundreds of options."
White-Label Option for Cruise Lines
Hyperfunnel also offers its voice AI as a white-label solution for cruise lines to deploy on their own websites. The first cruise line is expected to launch this fall. The approach preserves travel agent commissions-agents can consult the AI for information instead of waiting on hold, and they still earn full commission.
This model costs cruise lines less than staffing a call center while keeping agents in the loop, Kamlani said.
Pre-Cruise Education Gap
Kamlani recently sailed on a major cruise and noticed the line's website assumed passengers already understood the process. It never mentioned the daily planner or recommended booking shows in advance. "They do a great job of upselling you on dining packages or excursions, but I think they could do a much better job of educating you on how to get the most from your cruise before you go," he said.
The AI agent can fill that gap, walking passengers through pre-cruise preparation and maximizing their experience.
Background
Kamlani holds a master's degree from Cornell University and led global e-commerce at Meliá Hotels International. He founded Regatta Travel Solutions, a reservations platform later acquired by Kognitiv Corp. He started Hyperfunnel in late 2024 after spotting what he calls a "massive opportunity brewing for AI in the travel space." His advisory board includes Cressida Sergeant, a figure well-known in cruise technology.
Hyperfunnel expects to close seed funding by May. Kamlani will meet with cruise lines at Seatrade Cruise Global next week.
For sales professionals in travel, this represents a shift in how leads are generated and qualified. AI for Sales now extends to home screens, making discovery and conversion part of the same experience rather than separate steps.
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