WiFicandy Turned a Common Travel Headache into a Sweet Global Solution
WiFicandy Expands eSIM Travel Connectivity to 100+ Countries with 5G Support
DUBLIN, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the most frustrating parts of international travel is scrambling for affordable and reliable internet access upon landing. It's a challenge most of us know all too well. Elena Slabutu, a tech enthusiast and travel lover, had experienced firsthand the frustration of unreliable public Wi-Fi and the inconvenience of pay-as-you-go SIMs. Hearing stories of tourists racking up hefty roaming fees and struggling with local SIM cards only reinforced her belief that this was a widespread and pressing issue.
In 2018, she founded WiFicandy, a Dublin-based travel tech startup with a simple yet powerful mission: to make staying connected abroad as easy as enjoying a piece of candy. What began as one woman's search for a better solution became a globally loved service helping travelers explore with ease and peace of mind.
Elena approached the problem not just as an entrepreneur, but from a traveller's perspective. Her early exposure to the travel connectivity space, working as an intern in 2014 at a startup that introduced portable Wi-Fi rentals to Ireland, planted the seed for what would eventually become her own venture.
"For travelers, connectivity has become as essential as a passport," Elena says. "I launched WiFicandy so staying online is one less worry when exploring new places."
She noticed a major gap in connectivity for travelers who ventured outside Ireland's major cities. Whether navigating the winding roads of the Wild Atlantic Way or exploring remote villages by public transport, access to reliable internet for maps, bookings, and translations became a necessity.
Her empathy-driven solution began with portable Wi-Fi devices, pocket-sized hotspots that could connect up to eight devices and last a full day, perfect for group travelers or families. Later, she expanded the offering to include eSIM services for those who preferred a digital setup. Every step of WiFicandy's evolution was guided by users' feedback, including friends and family.
Bootstrapped from the beginning, WiFicandy's early growth was far from easy. Elena borrowed seed money from her family and went unpaid for over a year while reinvesting every cent back into the business. Her dedication and resourcefulness paid off: in 2019, WiFicandy experienced a staggering 900% growth in turnover and gained a loyal following among visitors to Ireland and the UK.
Today, WiFicandy offers hotspot rentals and flexible eSIM data packages covering over 100 countries. With innovations like 5G integration and expanded international delivery, the company continues to evolve. But the core mission remains the same: empowering travelers to stay effortlessly connected. Elena is also a proud member of the Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC), where she shares her journey, connects with founders, and builds partnerships.
"WiFicandy began with my own travel frustrations," Elena reflects. "Now it's a bridge that connects people to the world, to their loved ones, and to the joy of travel itself."
Media Contact:Elena SlabuțuFounder & CEO, WiFicandyelena@wificandy.ie www.wificandy.ie
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2702326/Elena_Slabutu.jpg
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wificandy-turned-a-common-travel-headache-into-a-sweet-global-solution-302472154.html
SOURCE WiFicandy
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
BenQ Australia to Showcase World's First Android 15 Education Display and AI-Powered Teaching Tools at EDUtech 2025
Where Innovation Meets Wellbeing in Education: Redefining Classrooms with AI and Care-Driven Technology SYDNEY, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BenQ is set to lead the conversation at EDUtech 2025, unveiling the world's first Android 15 education display, alongside a portfolio of AI-driven teaching tools and health-conscious classroom technologies. Visit Booth No. 814 on 11-12 June, 2025, at International Convention Centre, Sydney, to experience how BenQ continues to push the boundaries of smart, safe, and healthy education solutions. Under the theme "AI Wow – AI that Supports", BenQ emphasises its commitment to practical innovation: supporting teachers, engaging students, and ensuring lasting value for schools. "BenQ's education technology reflects a core philosophy: to empower teachers, protect students, and deliver lasting value," said Martin Moelle, Managing Director of BenQ Australia. "The launch of the world's first Android 15 education display isn't just a milestone, it's a promise. By extending this upgrade to our existing RP04 customers, we're showing that innovation and after-sales care can go hand-in-hand. With our AI tools and ClassroomCare® features, we're not just preparing for the future, we're building it for schools, today." RP04 Sets Global Milestone with Android 15 Upgrade BenQ will begin offering Android over-the-air (OTA) upgrades for its BenQ Board Pro RP04 series, which becomes the world's first Android 15 education display. What sets this upgrade apart is that it will be rolled out to all existing RP04 customers, reinforcing BenQ's commitment to after-sales service, software longevity, and long-term value. Schools already using the RP04 can expect a major performance boost, no hardware replacement required. AI That Supports: A Human-First Approach As Australian classrooms increasingly integrate AI, BenQ stands at the forefront with a human-first approach. BenQ Boards are designed to act as intelligent teaching companions, easing the workload on educators while enhancing learning outcomes. Features include: Speech Translation – Break language barriers with instant multilingual communication, ideal for Australia's diverse classrooms. EZ Math Calculator – Convert handwritten math into editable digital content for cleaner, more organised teaching materials. AI Lens – Instantly identify plants and insects to enrich science learning and spark student curiosity. These tools are aligned with AI trends in Australian education, including a focus on equity, engagement, and instructional efficiency. With BenQ, AI is about amplifying the impact of educators and enriching the student experience through practical, accessible innovation. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE BenQ Corporation Inicia sesión para acceder a tu portafolio
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Broadcom shares drop as revenue forecast fails to impress
(Reuters) - Broadcom shares fell nearly 4% in premarket trading on Friday, after the company's third-quarter revenue forecast failed to impress investors who have been extremely bullish on chip stocks amid an artificial intelligence boom. The Palo Alto, California-based company, which supplies semiconductors to Apple and Samsung, provides advanced networking gear that allows vast amounts of data to travel across AI data centers, making its chips crucial for the development of generative AI technology. Broadcom forecast third-quarter revenue of around $15.80 billion, compared with analysts' average estimate of $15.71 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. "High expectations drove a bit of downside," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said in a note. Broadcom also helps design custom AI processors for large cloud providers, which compete against Nvidia's pricey off-the-shelf chips. Global chipmakers, including Nvidia, have been vulnerable to U.S. President Donald Trump's shifting trade policy and export curbs as Washington attempts to limit Beijing's access to advanced U.S. technology. "AVGO is ramping two additional customers, but they are still small. So the processor business will grow this year, but at a measured rate," said Morgan Stanley. Last week, rival Marvell Technology forecast second-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimate, betting on strong demand for its custom chips powering AI workload in data centers. Broadcom's valuation had crossed $1 trillion for the first time in December after it forecast massive expansion in demand for chips that power AI. Its shares have risen about 12% so far this year. It has a 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio of 35.36, compared with Marvell's 20.63, according to data compiled by LSEG. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's Gold Card Sees Rich Applicants Flock to 'Red Carpet Visa'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump's $5 million "gold card" visa is attracting a surge of interest from ultra-wealthy investors seeking a fast track to U.S. citizenship through what has been dubbed a "Red Carpet Visa." Despite the lack of official launch details, immigration advisers and legal experts say inquiries are pouring in from high-net-worth people, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, eager to capitalize on Trump's latest overhaul of the immigration system. Newsweek has contacted the Commerce Department for comment via email. Why It Matters In February, Trump proposed a gold-card visa program that would offer U.S. residency to people who invest $5 million in the country. Since returning to office on January 20, Trump has proposed sweeping changes to U.S. immigration policy and has moved to limit other immigration pathways, with his administration pausing the processing of some green-card applications, ending the temporary legal status of certain migrant groups, and halting student visa applications. President Donald Trump holds up the $5 million gold card as he speaks to reporters while on Air Force One on April 3, 2025. President Donald Trump holds up the $5 million gold card as he speaks to reporters while on Air Force One on April 3, 2025. Pool via AP What To Know Dominic Volek, group head of private clients at international investment migration advisory firm Henley & Partners, told Newsweek that interest has surged from affluent people in Asia. "We have already received genuine and committed interest from clients across our more than 60 offices worldwide, particularly UHNWIs in Asia, with affluent Indian and Bangladeshi nationals expressing a keen interest to apply at an exclusive event we held in Singapore last week," Volek said. While the White House has yet to confirm when the program will officially launch, inquiries are surging, experts said. Ashok Kumar Adusumilli, director of noted a spike in interest from longtime Indian entrepreneurs living in Dubai. "I have received a handful of inquiries from entrepreneurs based in Dubai, primarily of Indian origin who have been residing in the UAE for over 20 years," Adusumilli told Newsweek. He added that investors are also seeking clarity on whether the $5 million investment threshold applies per family or individual. Florian Demmler, chief marketing officer at WINHELLER GmbH, a German-based law firm that specializes in U.S. work visas, told Newsweek that they are receiving inquiries on a "daily basis." "We have many inquiries on the Gold Card," Demmler said. "On a daily basis, we are answering calls and mails from around the world. We have a lot of influx from all possible regions of the world, across all continents." Implementing the policy would require a major amendment to the Internal Revenue Code—specifically, the creation of a new taxpayer category separate from existing classifications like U.S. citizens, green-card holders and those meeting the substantial presence test, all of whom are taxed on their global income. Such a change cannot be made through executive order; it would require formal legislation passed by both chambers of Congress. So far, no such provision is included in Trump's "big, beautiful bill" currently under debate on Capitol Hill. What People Are Saying Florian Demmler, chief marketing officer at WINHELLER GmbH, told Newsweek: "We also have inquiries from the USA, especially by people who apparently already have valid residence permits but want to 'upgrade' their residence authorization. Most often, people ask, if they can apply already. They also ask, how high the investment should be and which documents they must provide." Ashok Kumar Adusumilli, director of told Newsweek: "One potential investor was particularly interested about the zero tax obligations on global income and wanted to know whether the gold card would allow for part-time residency in the U.S. without the physical presence requirements typical of green-card holders. This concern stemmed from reports of green-card holders being questioned or detained at U.S. ports of entry after extended stays abroad. Another inquiry centered on whether the proposed $5 million investment threshold would apply per family or individual. "At this time, the specifics of the gold-card program remain unclear, and we are waiting for a proposal or bill from Congress or the Trump administration for more concrete details." Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, told Newsweek: "President Trump is a businessman and innovator who is always looking for new ways to bring investment back to the United States and encourage legal immigration." What Happens Next Despite the buzz, the specifics of the gold-card program remain under wraps. There is no formal proposal or legislation yet from Congress or the Trump administration. As legal professionals field global inquiries, the administration faces mounting questions to clarify the launch date.
