There is no such thing as a typical traveler.

Founder Randy Petersen built FlyerTalk, BoardingArea and several other travel-related ventures by understanding what matters to travelers. Years of working alongside these communities revealed how differently people approach the same decision. A first-time flyer, a frequent business traveler, a points enthusiast and a family planning an annual vacation each bring distinct expectations, motivations and concerns.

That experience took on new relevance as BoardingAI developed projects including Mileslink, Milepoint and RoomExpert. It needed a consistent way to examine new ideas through diverse traveler perspectives—and identify confusion, friction and unanswered questions before launch.

Gate83 grew from that practical need. A research-first synthetic testing platform built specifically for travel, it uses research-informed, simulated traveler personas to evaluate websites, products and concepts. Its purpose is to help teams understand where travelers might find value, hesitate or lose their way, and identify what needs further testing with real people.

Grounded in decades of listening to travelers, Gate83 brings that same curiosity to the development process: understand the people you hope to serve, question your assumptions and build with their needs in mind.