What is Huvr? A Country? A Company? Read on.

In 2019, Herman DeBoard reshaped the gig economy landscape with a virtual experience app. Today, his platform connects travelers with human guides in over 50 fascinating countries.

Huvr is a groundbreaking platform that allows users to explore the world from the comfort of their own homes. By leveraging the gig economy, Huvr connects users with local guides, historians, and enthusiasts who conduct live virtual tours. These local experts provide a personal touch by offering unique, authentic insights into various destinations.

Bringing sci-fi into real-world innovation

DeBoard’s spark of innovation came as he watched Jake Sully, a paralyzed former Marine, use a futuristic pod to teleport to a new world in James Cameron’s hit blockbuster film “Avatar.” Inspired, DeBoard realized his present-day coding skills could transform the movie’s sci-fi plot into reality.

“The app we created is essentially like Lyft or Uber, but instead of connecting riders to drivers, we connect virtual travelers to human walkers,” DeBoard explains. “When users visit our platform, they select a walker and instantly see and hear the sights and sounds of that location through the walker’s mobile device.”

The Gig Economy Opens a New Frontier in Tourism

The gig economy — characterized by short-term, flexible jobs — has been growing exponentially in recent years. By joining other platforms tailored to gig economy workers like Uber, Airbnb, and TaskRabbit, Huvr can offer personalized virtual experiences worldwide.

Huvr’s business model is ingeniously simple yet remarkably impactful. Essentially, it leverages technology to connect thousands of tourists seeking authentic experiences with the local experts who can provide them.

“We recruit gig economy workers who are passionate about where they live,” notes DeBoard. “We look for history buffs, cultural aficionados, and natural conversationalists who enjoy telling stories about the places they love.”

Tourists browsing the Huvr platform can choose from a variety of virtual tours and can customize their tours based on interests such as historical landmarks, cultural hotspots, or even shopping. Meanwhile, local experts set Huvr’s travel experiences apart from guidebooks and online tour blogs because, unlike pre-recorded virtual tour content, Huvr’s live tours guarantee authenticity and spontaneity and allow for questions to be asked and answered in real-time, further enhancing users’ learning experiences.

Additionally, Huvr walkers are not only subject matter experts but also passionate about sharing their local culture and history. This results in a rich and engaging experience for the platform’s users.

Personalization is paramount, and Huvr’s virtual tours put digital travelers in the driver’s seat. While traditional tours often have rigid structures, covering predetermined places and offering limited interaction, Huvr’s virtual tours are crafted around each user’s individual preferences. This makes the experience far more engaging because Huvr walkers go where the platform’s users want them to go. Virtual travelers can suggest destinations that cater specifically to their interests, be it art, history, food, or nightlife.

The Economic Opportunities for Huvr Walkers as Gig Workers

Beyond enriching the travel experience, Huvr unlocks substantial earning opportunities for gig economy workers. For many, the gig economy serves as a means to supplement a primary income, which is particularly useful for students, retirees, and locals who are between jobs.

“Best of all, Huvr’s global presence in over 50 countries enables us to impact poverty in many underdeveloped areas,” observes DeBoard. “Many of our walkers live in communities where the daily income averages $5. However, as they leverage the gig economy, our virtual tour guides can earn over $40 an hour. This salary has the potential to transform their individual circumstances and that of their community as well.”

In addition to extra income, Huvr’s use of the gig economy also offers its workers flexibility. Huvr allows its walkers to set their own schedules, enabling them to work at the times that are most convenient for them. This is particularly beneficial for those gig workers who need to manage other commitments, such as childcare, education, or other employment responsibilities.

Huvr also offers its gig workers the opportunity to develop new skills. As its walkers enhance their knowledge of local history, geography, and culture, they also have the chance to improve their communication and storytelling abilities since engaging virtual travelers with interesting information and anecdotes is a key part of the role. In this way, Huvr walkers become part of a global community, connecting with like-minded individuals and broadening their professional networks.

Huvr benefits everyone involved by marrying the gig economy with the enriching world of personalized travel. By creating a platform where gig economy workers offer tailored virtual tours to targeted consumers, Huvr redefines the tourism experience and provides significant economic opportunities for gig workers.

“For tourists, we offer the chance to explore the world,” DeBoard concludes. “For our gig workers, we offer an opportunity to earn a substantial income while sharing passion and expertise. Join us and use the power of the gig economy to boldly experience new wonders and make your world a better place.”

About the Author: Marcy Paulson is a full-time writer based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She’s been featuring her clients’ stories for eight years and still can’t wait for the next interview. When she’s not near a keyboard, you’ll either find her picking guitar with her husband in their old-time string band, paddling the Tennessee River, or hiking through the Appalachian foothills with their kids.

Marcy Paulson, Special to California Business Journal