WeRoad Scores $58M from Airbnb to Bring Its Social Travel Formula to the U.S.

Milan-based group travel company WeRoad just closed a $58 million Series C round led by Airbnb, giving it the firepower to finally cross the Atlantic. The startup, which has now raised about $100 million in total, plans to launch in the U.S. starting with Austin, Texas.

WeRoad’s pitch is simple: travel is better when you actually connect with the people you’re with. The founders—Paolo De Nadai, Fabio Bin, and Erika De Santi—started the company after struggling to find travel companions after college. They noticed existing group trips often mixed ages and interests, leaving solo travelers physically together but socially apart.

So WeRoad redesigned the experience around shared interests and age groups. Trips are themed—beach getaways, ski trips—and capped at 8 to 15 people. Before departure, travelers join a WhatsApp group to start bonding. Group leaders, who are closer in age to the travelers, act more like friends than guides. “We’re not looking for destination experts,” De Nadai said. “We need people who can lead a group, handle tension, and help strangers connect.”

It’s working. WeRoad generated €130 million in revenue last year, up 30%, and took more than 100,000 travelers on trips. About 60% of customers book again.

The company is also betting that the desire for offline connection extends beyond vacations. In 2025, it launched WeMeet, an app for local in-person events like hikes, dinners, and board game nights. More than 50,000 people attended WeMeet events across 35 cities last year. The app will be central to the U.S. rollout, starting with Austin, where WeRoad will recruit group leaders and host local events before expanding to other cities in 2026.

Whether this “IRL economy” can sustain itself long-term is an open question. But with this latest round, investors are betting that loneliness—especially among younger travelers—is a problem worth solving.