Key Takeaways:
- WeRoad raised $58 million in Series C funding led by Airbnb
- Total capital raised reaches about $100 million for US expansion
- Company generated €130 million in 2025 revenue, up 30% year over year
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WeRoad raises $58M from Airbnb for US group travel push
The Milan-based startup is betting that the next generation of travel companies will look more like social platforms than booking engines.
WeRoad, the Milan-based group travel startup, raised $58 million in a Series C round led by Airbnb, bringing total funding to about $100 million as it prepares to enter the US market for the first time.
"In a world increasingly shaped by AI and social media, genuine human connection is becoming both rarer and more valuable," Paolo De Nadai, founder of WeRoad, said in a statement. "At WeRoad, we've built our entire product around enabling real-world connections through shared travel experiences."
The company generated €130 million in revenue in 2025, up 30% year over year, and took more than 100,000 travelers on trips last year. Since its founding in 2017, WeRoad has organized travel for more than 300,000 customers across over 1,000 itineraries globally, and it now works with more than 4,000 group leaders.
The investment reflects a bet that the "IRL economy" — startups monetizing offline interaction rather than screen time — represents a growing opportunity as loneliness among younger consumers becomes both a public health concern and a business category. WeRoad plans to begin its US expansion in Austin, using local events to build community before scaling nationwide.
WeRoad designs group trips primarily for Millennial and Gen Z travelers, grouping them by shared interests and travel styles rather than age alone. Groups typically include eight to 15 people, and travelers are added to WhatsApp groups before departure to begin connecting ahead of time. The company employs group leaders — coordinators closer in age to travelers who act as travel companions rather than traditional tour guides.
"Were not looking for destination experts, but for people with travel experience and strong soft skills," De Nadai said. "Can they lead a group, handle tension, adapt when plans change, and help strangers connect?"
About 90% of WeRoad customers travel solo, and roughly 60% eventually book another trip, the company said. Most itineraries last between 10 and 12 days, though the company has also introduced shorter weekend formats aimed at first-time customers.
WeMeet and the US Strategy
In 2025, WeRoad expanded beyond travel with WeMeet, an app focused on local in-person gatherings such as dinners, hikes, yoga classes, and board game nights. More than 50,000 people attended 2,000 WeMeet events across 35 cities last year, and the app reached 150,000 downloads.
WeMeet will play a central role in the US expansion. Rather than scaling nationwide immediately, WeRoad plans to focus on a small number of cities, beginning with Austin, where it will recruit group leaders, organize local events, and build community partnerships.
"Welle be launching WeMeet events across multiple US cities throughout 2026, starting with Austin because of its incredible energy and vibrant community scene," De Nadai said.
The company's chief executive Andrea D'Amico, who has a long career at Booking.com, will relocate to San Francisco to lead hotels at Airbnb while remaining closely involved with WeRoad as a board member. De Nadai will continue to lead the company alongside co-founders Fabio Bin, chief marketing officer, and Erika De Santi, chief of experience.
WeRoad competes in a growing field of startups targeting the IRL economy, including Timeleft, 222, and Pie, which pursue similar ideas through dinners, clubs, events, and community-based experiences. Whether companies can build lasting businesses around loneliness and social connection remains an open question, but investors are increasingly betting the demand is real.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
