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

WeRoad, a Milan-based travel startup, has raised a $58 million Series C round led by Airbnb as it prepares for its first major expansion outside of Europe. The funding brings the company’s total capital raised to nearly $100 million and will fund WeRoad’s US foray, starting with Austin.

The new investment represents a bet that the next generation of travel companies may look less like booking platforms and more like social networks designed to facilitate real-world connections.

The launch of the US also comes as loneliness, especially among young consumers, has become a public health problem and an emerging business opportunity. While much of the tech industry remains focused on AI, WeRoad positions itself as part of the growing “IRL economy,” a category of startups that make money from offline interactions instead of screen time. Companies like Timeleft, 222, and Pie are pursuing similar ideas for dinner, clubs, events, and community-based experiences.

The idea behind WeRoad comes from the founders – Paolo De Nadai, Fabio Bin, and Erika De Santi – wanting to connect with them.

“It started from a personal need. When you finish college and start working, it’s hard to find people to go with. Friends have settled down, have kids, are moving, or can’t make plans anymore,” De Nadai told TechCrunch. “My co-founder Fabio and I tried companies that offered the same group travel experience to solo travelers, but while the trip was good, something was missing. The guides were local experts, and the groups were mixed in age, and people didn’t see each other. People were traveling together, but not really communicating.”

The founders’ response was to reorient group dynamics around shared interests. WeRoad tours are designed mainly for young travelers and are built around shared interests and travel styles. Customers can book trips through the platform based on themes such as beach tours or skiing.

“We asked ourselves, ‘What if we created an itinerary for Millennials and Gen Z travelers, bringing together people of the same age with shared cultural references but from completely different backgrounds, and focused on creating real bonds between them?’” De Nadai added.

Before each trip begins, travelers are added to a WhatsApp group managed by the group leader so that members can start getting to know each other early. Groups usually consist of between eight and fifteen travelers.

“The biggest concern is that people don’t usually understand where they’re going,” says De Nadai, but he often worries that they won’t connect with the group. To address that, WeRoad deliberately plans itineraries around social dynamics. Many adventurous or interactive activities are often planned early in the trip to help break the ice.

Most tours last between 10 and 12 days, although the company also offers shorter weekend formats 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 “group leaders,” consultants who are close in age to travelers who act as travel companions. The company now works with more than 4,000 team leaders worldwide.

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

WeRoad has also begun to expand beyond the journey itself. In 2025, the company launched WeMeet, an app focused on in-person local gatherings, including dinners, hikes, yoga classes, running groups, after-work drinks, and board game nights. WeRoad says more than 50,000 people attended WeMeet events in 35 cities last year, and the app has reached 150,000 downloads.

The company says WeMeet will also play a key role in its US expansion strategy. Rather than expanding rapidly across the country, WeRoad plans to focus on a small number of cities first, starting with Austin, where it will recruit team leaders, organize local events, and build community relationships before expanding further.

“We will be launching WeMeet events in many US cities in 2026, starting with Austin because of its incredible energy and vibrant community,” said De Nadai.

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

WeRoad claims to have generated 130 million euros in revenue by 2025, up 30% year-on-year, while taking more than 100,000 travelers on trips last year alone. Since launching in 2017, the company says it has planned the trips of more than 300,000 customers in more than 1,000 destinations around the world.