Turn Travel into a Career

The Resurgence of Travel and a New Agency Model

Recent data indicates a significant rebound in the travel sector, with Thanksgiving holiday bookings surpassing even pre-pandemic figures, as reported by industry experts.

Introducing Fora: Empowering Travel Advisors

For individuals passionate about travel, or those known for expertly planning vacations, Fora presents a novel platform. Co-founded by Evan Frank of onefinestay, Henley Vazquez, a Virtuoso agency owner, and entrepreneur Jake Peters, Fora aims to redefine the traditional travel agency model.

The company provides a pathway for individuals seeking to pursue travel sales as a career or a supplemental income stream.

The Genesis of Fora

Frank and Vazquez had maintained a professional relationship for five years prior to the inception of Fora.

“Discussions about a potential collaboration were ongoing, but gained momentum this past March,” Vazquez explained. “While in Costa Rica, I was considering opportunities for women impacted by the pandemic and seeking fulfilling work. Recognizing the growing influence of content creators within the travel landscape, we identified a substantial opportunity to leverage technology to modernize the industry.”

A $100 Billion Market Ripe for Disruption

The U.S. travel agency market represents a $100 billion industry, yet it remains heavily reliant on outdated methods like fax machines and phone calls.

Fora is among a new wave of startups attracting venture capital to accelerate the digital transformation of the travel sector and capitalize on the burgeoning creator economy.

Thatch, another company in this space, secured $3 million in August to facilitate monetization for travel creators based on their recommendations.

Fora’s Distinctive Approach

However, Fora differentiates itself through a unique strategy: it actively trains individuals to become successful travel advisors.

This training encompasses comprehensive sessions, content authoring tools, and access to exclusive negotiated rates at leading hotels worldwide.

“Many companies focus on selling content or expertise, but we recognized a greater potential in empowering a wider network of individuals to sell travel effectively,” Frank stated. “Booking travel without proper systems or knowledge can be cumbersome. Our focus is on providing the tools necessary for our advisors to achieve success.”

Early Success and Seed Funding

Since its initial soft launch in August, Fora has already facilitated $2 million in travel bookings.

Today, the company announced the successful completion of a $5 million seed funding round.

Forerunner Ventures led the investment, with participation from Heartcore Capital, Uncommon Capital, and individual investors including Katrina Lake, Gokul Rajaram, Ran Makavy, and Ben Rubin.

Plans for Growth

The decision to seek venture capital was driven by the need to accelerate the development of Fora’s technology platform.

The new investment will be allocated to onboarding new advisors, enhancing product development, and expanding go-to-market strategies.

Currently, Fora’s advisor waitlist exceeds 2,000 individuals, and the company intends to prioritize their onboarding and training in the coming months.

The Power of Personal Networks

Brian O’Malley, general partner at Forerunner Ventures, emphasized that his firm’s assessment of the creator space revealed that Fora’s success hinges on advisors possessing strong personal networks and a genuine passion for travel.

“We view this as empowering the ‘entrepreneur next door’ rather than relying solely on influencers receiving complimentary benefits,” he added. “With rising customer acquisition costs, Fora offers a strategic advantage by leveraging pre-existing networks. It’s also a platform that is re-engaging individuals in the workforce.”