Wanderlog Raises $1.5M for Collaborative Travel Planning | General Catalyst

Wanderlog Secures $1.5M Seed Funding for Collaborative Travel Planning

Harry Yu and Peter Xu, twin brothers, experienced a nomadic upbringing that extended into their professional lives. A consistent challenge they faced was the complexity of travel logistics, a difficulty amplified by the recent pandemic. Previously spontaneous trips now necessitate increased planning and advance bookings.

Yu explained to TechCrunch that despite differing travel styles, a universal element exists: the need for a document to organize and disseminate trip details. They identified a gap in the market for a solution surpassing the limitations of spreadsheets and repetitive copy-pasting.

Introducing Wanderlog: A Modern Travel Planner

In 2019, the duo established Wanderlog, headquartered in the Bay Area, to provide a platform for consolidating and documenting travel arrangements. This free itinerary maker and road trip planner integrates the strengths of Google Docs and Maps, allowing users to import information and visually map their journeys.

Users can compile lists of desired destinations, and Wanderlog intelligently suggests optimal routes. Furthermore, Xu noted that reservation details can be seamlessly incorporated into the platform.

The company announced on Wednesday a successful seed funding round of $1.5 million, led by General Catalyst and Abstract Ventures.

Niko Bonatsos of General Catalyst commented via email, “Wanderlog demonstrates a profound understanding of user trip planning and experience sharing, which explains its widespread appeal.” He further stated, “General Catalyst is pleased to support Wanderlog in revolutionizing collaborative travel, and we are impressed by the progress made by Peter, Harry, and the entire Wanderlog team.”

Future Development and Growth

Having participated in the Y Combinator 2019 program, Wanderlog intends to utilize the new funding to enhance both its web and mobile applications. Planned improvements include the integration of restaurant recommendations, leveraging reviews from Google and Yelp, to alleviate the burden of extensive research.

While the founders have not disclosed specific growth figures, they report that the platform currently facilitates thousands of trips each week. Users have communicated the app’s effectiveness in streamlining communication within large groups, ensuring everyone remains informed about plans and can participate in discussions, Yu shared.

Additionally, a subscription service has recently been launched, exhibiting promising initial results.

A Surge in Travel Tech Investment

Wanderlog is part of a growing trend of venture capital investment in travel startups as pandemic-related restrictions ease. Recent examples include Thatch, which secured $3 million for its platform targeting travel creators; Hopper, raising $175 million; Wheel the World, obtaining $2 million for its accessible travel planner; and Elude, garnering $2.1 million to revitalize spontaneous travel.