At utu (pronounced “you-too”), we’re rewriting the rules of tax-free shopping, creating a win for travelers, retailers and tourism economies alike.
Made with Tourists in mind
Meet our CEO
Asad Jumabhoy, Co-Founder and CEO
Asad Jumabhoy is the co-founder and CEO of utu, leading the company’s strategy in developing innovative solutions for tax-free shopping.
With over 25 years in the industry, he has played a vital role in shaping the tax refund sector, accelerating the growth of Global Blue and Premier Tax Free (now Planet). His deep industry expertise and extensive network continue to fuel utu’s mission to enhance the travel retail experience.
Our story
Our expert team
Founded in 2016, utu leverages decades of industry expertise to deliver added value through an innovative platform that complements the existing tax-free shopping system.
Ameer Jumabhoy
Co-founder & CCO Vouchers
Vidur Verma
Chief Technology Officer
Ali Jumabhoy
VP Commercial Services
Flavio Gatti
SVP Sales
Shalyn Quek
Senior Marketing Manager
Khim Lim
Manager Product
FULL NAME
JOB TITLE
Years of building experiences
and transforming tax-free shopping
2017
Acquirer Integrated Rewards
Payment & Rewards
Onboard brands, cardholders, and issuer points at scale via secure bank integration. 1m transactions, 40,000 merchants & 40,000 members.
2019
Direct to Customer VAT Refunds
DTC VAT Refunds
30 years specialization in VAT refunding to disrupt tax-free shopping value chain. Refunded 85% of VAT on > €500,000 sales over 6 weeks pre-Covid shut down.
2021
Airmiles Refund and Payment Card
Miles to VAT
Partnered with more than 10 leading airlines and a major hotel group to upsize VAT refunds by 40% in miles to the shopper’s program choice. Issued utu Visa tax-free card.
2024
Retail Voucher with AI
vat to voucher
Seamless conversion of VAT refunds into retail vouchers just by taking a photo of a tax-free form. 3 core voucher products influence the Shopper’s commitment to buy.
Vision
To pioneer a new era of tourism retail that maximizes value for travelers and businesses by seamlessly connecting duty free and tax-free shopping.
Mission
Empower travelers with bonus value on tax refunds and connect retailers and partners in a global shopping ecosystem.