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

WeRoad, the Milan-based radical question startup, has raised a $58 cardinal Series C circular led by Airbnb arsenic it prepares for its archetypal large enlargement extracurricular Europe. The backing brings the company’s full superior raised to astir $100 cardinal and volition concern WeRoad’s propulsion into the U.S., opening with Austin.

The caller concern reflects a stake that the adjacent procreation of question companies whitethorn look little similar booking platforms and much similar societal platforms designed to facilitate real-world connections. 

The U.S. motorboat besides arrives arsenic loneliness, peculiarly among younger consumers, has go some a nationalist wellness interest and an emerging concern opportunity. When overmuch of the tech manufacture remains focused connected AI, WeRoad is positioning itself arsenic portion of the increasing “IRL economy,” a class of startups monetizing offline enactment alternatively than surface time. Companies similar Timeleft, 222, and Pie are pursuing akin ideas done dinners, clubs, events, and community-based experiences.

The thought down WeRoad came from the founders—Paolo De Nadai, Fabio Bin, and Erika De Santi— seeking transportation themselves. 

“It started from a precise idiosyncratic need. When you decorativeness assemblage and commencement working, it becomes harder to find radical to question with. Friends were settling down, having kids, moving away, oregon simply couldn’t align schedules anymore,” De Nadai told TechCrunch. “My cofounder Fabio and I some tried companies offering akin radical question experiences for solo travellers, but portion the trips were good, thing was missing. The guides were nonrecreational section experts, and the groups were mixed successful age, and radical didn’t truly spot oculus to eye. People were traveling together, but not truly connecting.”

Image Credits:WeRoad

The founders’ effect was to redesign radical question astir shared interests. WeRoad trips are chiefly designed for younger travelers and grouped astir shared interests and question styles. Customers tin publication trips done the level based connected themes specified arsenic formation vacations oregon skiing. 

“We asked ourselves, ‘What if we created trips for Millennials and Gen Z travellers, bringing unneurotic radical from the aforesaid property groups with shared taste references but wholly antithetic backgrounds, and focused connected creating existent bonds betwixt them?’” De Nadai added.

Before each travel begins, travelers are added to a WhatsApp radical managed by the radical person truthful members tin statesman getting to cognize 1 different up of time. Groups typically see betwixt 8 and 15 travelers.

“The biggest interest radical person is seldom the destination,” De Nadai said, but usually concerns that they won’t link with the group. To code that, WeRoad intentionally structures itineraries astir societal dynamics. More adventurous oregon collaborative activities are often scheduled aboriginal successful the travel to assistance interruption the ice.

Most itineraries past betwixt 10 and 12 days, though the institution has besides introduced shorter play formats aimed astatine first-time customers. According to WeRoad, astir 60% of travelers yet publication different trip.

Additionally, alternatively of accepted circuit guides, WeRoad has “group leaders,” coordinators person successful property to travelers who enactment much similar question companions. The institution present works with much than 4,000 radical leaders globally. 

“We’re not looking for destination experts, but for radical with question acquisition and beardown brushed skills. Can they pb a group, grip tension, accommodate erstwhile plans change, and assistance strangers connect?” De Nadai said. 

Image Credits:Screenshot from App Store

WeRoad has besides begun expanding beyond question itself. In 2025, the institution launched WeMeet, an app focused connected section in-person gatherings, including dinners, hikes, yoga classes, moving groups, after-work drinks, and committee crippled nights. WeRoad says much than 50,000 radical attended WeMeet events crossed 35 cities past year, portion the app reached 150,000 downloads.

The institution says WeMeet volition besides play a cardinal relation successful its U.S. enlargement strategy. Rather than instantly scaling nationwide, WeRoad plans to absorption connected a tiny fig of cities first, opening with Austin, wherever it volition enlistee radical leaders, signifier section events, and physique assemblage partnerships earlier expanding further.

“We’ll beryllium launching WeMeet events crossed aggregate U.S. cities passim 2026, starting with Austin due to the fact that of its unthinkable vigor and vibrant assemblage scene,” De Nadai said.

Whether companies tin physique lasting businesses astir loneliness and societal transportation remains an unfastened question. But investors are progressively betting that the request is real.

WeRoad says it generated €130 cardinal successful gross successful 2025, up 30% twelvemonth implicit year, portion taking much than 100,000 travelers connected trips past twelvemonth alone. Since launching successful 2017, the institution says it has organized question for much than 300,000 customers crossed implicit 1,000 itineraries globally.