Airbnb-backed WeRoad raises $58M to take its travel group to the US

WeRoadthe Milan-based travel startup group, has raised $58 million in Series C funding led by Airbnb in preparation for its first expansion outside of Europe. The funding brings the company’s total funding raised to nearly $100 million and will fund WeRoad’s US push, starting in Austin.

The new investment represents a bet on what the next generation of travel companies will look like both as booking platforms and as social media platforms designed to facilitate real-time connections.

The US establishment also comes as loneliness, especially among young consumers, has become a public health concern and an emerging business opportunity. While many tech companies are still focusing on AI, WeRoad positions itself as part of the growing “IRL Economy”. basics making money online instead of spending time on screen. Companies like Timeleft, 222, and Pie are pursuing similar ideas through dining, clubs, events, and community events.

The idea behind WeRoad came from the founders – Paolo De Nadai, Fabio Bin, and Erika De Santi – looking for a connection themselves.

“It started because of a lack of people.” When you graduate from college and start working, it can be difficult to find people to travel with. Your friends were settling down, having children, moving, or could no longer coordinate the schedule,” De Nadai told TechCrunch. “Co-founder Fabio and I both tried companies that offered similar social experiences to solo travelers, but even though the tours were good, something was missing. The guides were local experts, and the groups were of mixed ages, and people rarely saw each other. People were walking together, but not really interacting. “

The founders’ response was to redesign the group tours around their interests. WeRoad tours are designed for younger travelers and are categorized according to their interests and travel styles. Customers can book trips on the platform based on themes such as beach holidays or skiing.

“We asked ourselves, ‘What if we could create tours for Millennials and Gen Z travelers, bringing together people of the same age who have shared values ​​but different cultures, and focus on creating real relationships between them?'” De Nadai added.

Before each tour begins, travelers are added to a WhatsApp group led by a group leader so that members can get to know each other in advance. Groups range from eight to fifteen travelers.

“The biggest worry people often have is not where they’re going,” De Nadai said, but they often worry that they won’t be able to connect with the group. To address this, WeRoad intentionally creates routes around social media. Additional or related activities are often planned at the beginning of the trip to help break the ice.

Most trips last between 10 and 12 days, although the company has also introduced a shorter weekend format aimed at first-time customers. According to WeRoad, about 60% of travelers end up booking another trip.

Additionally, instead of traditional tour guides, WeRoad has “team leaders,” seasoned travel coordinators who act as fellow travelers. The company now works with more than 4,000 leaders worldwide.

“We’re not looking for destination experts, but people with great travel and soft skills. Can they lead a team, manage conflict, adapt to change plans, and help strangers communicate?” De Nadai said.

WeRoad has also begun to expand beyond travel. In 2025, the company launched WeMeet, an app that focuses on social gatherings, including dinners, hikes, yoga classes, running groups, workplace drinks, and game nights. WeRoad says more than 50,000 people participated in WeMeet events in 35 cities last year, while the app generated 150,000 downloads.

The company says WeMeet will also play a major role in its US expansion plan. Instead of going global, WeRoad plans to focus on smaller cities first, starting in Austin, where it will recruit community leaders, organize local events, and build community partnerships before expanding.

“We will be launching WeMeet events in several US cities in 2026, starting with Austin because of its energy and social impact,” De Nadai said.

Whether companies can build lasting businesses on loneliness and social interaction is an open question. But investors are increasingly betting that the demand is real.

WeRoad is said to have generated revenues of €130 million in 2025, a 30% year-on-year increase, and took more than 100,000 travelers on trips last year alone. Since launching in 2017, the company says it has organized more than 300,000 customer trips across more than 1,000 destinations worldwide.