WeRoad raises $58M from Airbnb to expand group travel to the US

WeRoad, a group travel startup, has raised a $58 million Series C funding round led by Airbnb. The investment marks the company’s first major expansion outside Europe as it prepares to enter the US market, beginning with Austin. This latest round brings WeRoad’s total capital raised to roughly $100 million.

The expansion arrives as loneliness, particularly among younger consumers, has become both a public health concern and an emerging business opportunity. While much of the technology sector remains focused on artificial intelligence, WeRoad is positioning itself within the “IRL economy”—a category of startups monetizing offline interaction rather than screen time. Other companies in this space, such as Timeleft, 222, and Pie, are pursuing similar models through offline events and community-based experiences.

Launched in 2017 by founders Paolo De Nadai, Fabio Bin, and Erika De Santi, the company was built to address the difficulty of finding travel companions after university. “It started from a very personal need. When you finish college and start working, it becomes harder to find people to travel with. Friends were settling down, having kids, moving away, or simply couldn’t align schedules anymore,” said De Nadai. To solve this, WeRoad designs trips for groups of between eight and 15 travelers, with itineraries typically lasting between 10 and 12 days. Instead of employing traditional tour guides, the platform relies on more than 4,000 group leaders—coordinators who act as travel companions. The approach has led to a repeat booking rate of roughly 60%.

To support its expansion, WeRoad plans to launch its local gathering app, WeMeet, across multiple US cities throughout 2026, starting with Austin. The company plans to use the app to anchor its US strategy. In 2025, the app reached 150,000 downloads, with more than 50,000 people attending WeMeet events across 35 cities. WeRoad will focus on recruiting local group leaders and establishing community partnerships in Austin before scaling further.

WeRoad’s growth and financial metrics include:

• Revenue: €130 million in revenue in 2025, representing an increase of 30% year over year.
• Volume: More than 100,000 travelers taken on trips last year.
• Historical Reach: More than 300,000 customers across over 1,000 itineraries since its 2017 launch.

Why it matters

WeRoad’s $58 million funding round marks its first major expansion outside Europe, signaling a strategic push into the US market. The company is positioning itself within the IRL economy, betting that the next generation of travel companies will function more like social platforms than traditional booking services.