Canary Technologies Secures $80M Series D Funding

Canary Secures $80 Million in Series D Funding

Canary, a leading platform for hotel guest management, revealed on Thursday the completion of an $80 million Series D funding round. The investment was spearheaded by Brighton Park Capital.

Company Origins and Growth

Founded in 2018 by Harman Singh Narula and his childhood friend, SJ Sawhney, Canary was created to facilitate the digitization and automation of interactions between hotels and their guests. To date, the company has successfully raised approximately $180 million in funding.

Addressing Challenges in the Hospitality Industry

“The complexities of hotel management are continually increasing,” explained Singh Narula in an interview with TechCrunch. “The expectations of guests are in constant flux, and ongoing labor shortages are placing significant pressure on operational capabilities. We identified a gap in the market where technology could empower hoteliers to enhance guest experiences, boost profitability, and streamline operations.”

Comprehensive Guest Journey Solutions

Canary provides a comprehensive suite of products designed to cover every stage of the guest experience, from the initial booking process through to departure.

For instance, the platform enables mobile check-in and allows guests to communicate with the front desk via text message. Furthermore, Canary is integrating AI, utilizing a Large Language Model (LLM) to provide instant responses to guests through voice, web, and text-based channels.

Customization and Wide Adoption

“The user experience is fully customized and branded for each individual hotel,” Singh Narula elaborated. “Consequently, guests may not even be aware that Canary is facilitating their travel experience. However, given our current partnerships with over 20,000 hotels spanning more than 100 countries, it’s highly probable that many recent hotel stays have been enhanced by Canary.”

Notable companies utilizing Canary’s services include Rosewood Hotels, Marriott, Best Western, and Wyndham.

Competitive Landscape

According to data from PitchBook, Canary operates within a competitive market alongside other hotel management software providers such as Cloudbeds and Revinate.

Strategic Fundraising

Singh Narula characterized the fundraising process as a strategic opportunity. “Although we weren’t actively seeking funding, a compelling opportunity arose to collaborate with partners who share our vision, values, and future direction,” he stated.

Investor Participation and Future Plans

The funding round also saw participation from existing investors, including Y Combinator, Insight Partners, and F-Prime.

The newly acquired capital will be allocated towards accelerating the company’s growth and expanding its team through strategic hiring initiatives.

Vision for the Future of Travel

“We believe that travel serves as a powerful catalyst for human connection,” Singh Narula concluded. “Canary is committed to playing a vital role in making these experiences more personalized, memorable, and impactful.”

Note: This article’s headline has been updated to reflect the lead investor and the complete list of participating investors.