Top 5 Venture Capital Firms Investing in Hospitality Startups

For founders in the hospitality and travel tech space, finding the right investor is crucial. Knowing which venture capital firms specialize in your industry can make your fundraising process more efficient and successful, connecting you with partners who understand your business model and goals.

To help you prepare, our team has curated this overview of top VC firms that actively invest in hospitality startups. This guide covers firms from early-stage to growth-stage, giving you a starting point for your investor research.

Rho provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay—built for startup teams moving fast. Once funding is secured, our integrated financial tools help you manage and deploy capital efficiently.

Key Takeaways

• Securing venture funding provides hospitality startups with the capital to grow and a strategic partner who understands the industry's unique challenges and opportunities.

• Top venture capital firms like Branded Hospitality, Thayer Ventures, Derive Ventures, and Jaws Ventures are actively funding companies in the hospitality sector.

• Once you've secured funding, Rho helps you manage your new capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

Which VC Firms in Hospitality Are Right for Your Stage?

Whether your company is in its early stages or preparing for an exit, knowing which investors to approach is key. Here’s a quick look at several hospitality VC firms and the stages they invest in.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Hospitality

Pre-seed and seed funding is the earliest capital you'll raise, typically used to validate your idea and build an initial product. For hospitality startups at this stage, seed stage venture capital firms like New York-based Branded Hospitality, Miami's Jaws Ventures, and Big Rock in San Francisco are active investors.

Early Stage VC Firms in Hospitality

Early-stage funding, which includes Series A and Series B rounds, is for companies with a proven product looking to scale their team and accelerate growth. Among the early stage venture capital firms for hospitality startups, San Francisco-based tech investors like Thayer Ventures and Derive Ventures are key players.

Late Stage VC Firms in Hospitality

Late-stage funding is designed for established companies preparing for major expansion, acquisition, or an exit like an IPO. Some travel and hospitality venture capital firms that provide this type of growth capital include Thayer Ventures and Derive Ventures.

Keep in mind that some venture capital investment firms invest across multiple stages, from seed to exit. Once your funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help you manage and deploy capital efficiently.

Here are more details on the top VC firms that focus on the hospitality industry. We've outlined their investment stages, geographic focus, and what makes each firm a compelling partner for you.

1. Branded Hospitality

Based in New York, Branded Hospitality is an investment firm that supports growth and innovation across hospitality, media, and related technology ventures. They focus on companies and solutions that are actively shaping the future of the industry.

The firm invests from seed to early-stage and has a strong track record, including portfolio company Bbot's acquisition by DoorDash. Their investments, like the fast-growing Big Chicken franchise, show a focus on building powerful consumer and B2B brands.

This firm could be a great partner if you're an early-stage founder in restaurant tech, food and beverage, or general hospitality. They are a good fit for companies seeking a partner with experience in brand-building and scaling operations.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Private Equity

• Industries of focus: Hospitality, Food and Beverage, SaaS, Retail Technology

• Geographical presence: New York, NY

• Founded: 2017

• Notable portfolio companies: Bbot (acquired by DoorDash), PourMyBeer, Ottonomy IO, Big Chicken

• Portfolio size: 73 investments

You can refer to their website here.

2. Thayer Ventures

Based in San Francisco, Thayer Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests exclusively in travel and hospitality technology companies. They support businesses from their earliest stages through to growth and exit.

The firm has a history of backing companies that become industry standards, including the publicly-traded Sonder and unicorn Mews. Their portfolio shows a clear focus on foundational technology for the travel sector, from revenue management to guest experience.

This firm is a good match if you're building a technology solution with the potential to become a core part of the travel and hospitality infrastructure. They are a strong partner for founders who value deep industry expertise and a track record of high-profile exits.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: Travel Technology, Hospitality

• Geographical presence: San Francisco, CA

• Founded: 2007

• Notable portfolio companies: Sonder, Mews, Uplift, Duetto, Canary Technologies

• Portfolio size: 65 investments

You can refer to their website here.

3. Derive Ventures

Based in San Francisco, Derive Ventures is an early-stage venture fund that supports companies in the travel and hospitality industries. They concentrate on technology-driven businesses that also touch the real estate and software sectors.

The firm’s investments show a clear focus on high-growth software and fintech, with notable portfolio companies like the unicorn loyalty platform Bilt Rewards and guest-experience tool Canary Technologies. This indicates an appetite for businesses that can become foundational in their niche.

Derive Ventures is a good match if you are a founder building a scalable software or fintech company for the travel, real estate, or hospitality markets. They appear to back founders with a clear product vision and a large addressable market.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: Hospitality, Leisure, Real Estate, Software, Travel

• Geographical presence: San Francisco, CA

• Founded: 2021

• Notable portfolio companies: Bilt Rewards, Canary Technologies, Scale Computing, Cardless, Rain

• Portfolio size: 26 investments

You can refer to their website here.

4. Jaws Ventures

Based in Miami, Jaws Ventures provides growth capital to companies in the consumer and technology sectors. The firm invests from seed to early-stage, supporting businesses across industries like e-commerce, mobile, and hospitality.

The firm's portfolio shows a focus on high-growth consumer brands and foundational technology, with investments ranging from D2C company Parachute Home to e-commerce platform Route. Their track record includes notable exits like Lytro's acquisition by Google, indicating an eye for transformative tech.

This firm is a strong potential partner if you are building a consumer-focused or technology-enabled business with broad market appeal. Founders with companies in e-commerce, mobile, or hospitality that have the potential to become household names could find a good fit here.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture

• Industries of focus: Consumer, E-Commerce, Hospitality, Internet, Mobile

• Geographical presence: Miami, FL

• Founded: 2014

• Notable portfolio companies: Rubicon Technologies, Parachute Home, Route, Zeno Power, Lytro (acquired by Google)

• Portfolio size: 105 investments

You can refer to their website here.

5. Big Rock

Based in San Francisco, Big Rock is a family office that invests in California’s hospitality, wellness, and cannabis communities. The firm is dedicated to supporting seed-stage companies within these specific sectors.

Big Rock has a clear focus on businesses with strong brand recognition, backing well-known names like the PlumpJack Group and High Times. Their portfolio also includes key B2B infrastructure companies like Vertosa, showing an interest in both consumer-facing and foundational technology businesses.

This firm is a good match for California-based founders at the seed stage who are building a business in hospitality, wellness, or cannabis. They are a compelling partner for companies with high-growth brand potential or those creating essential technology for the industry.

• Investment stages: Seed

• Industries of focus: Hospitality, Wellness, Cannabis

• Geographical presence: San Francisco, CA

• Founded: 2009

• Notable portfolio companies: PlumpJack Group, High Times, CannaCraft, PharmaCann, Vertosa

• Portfolio size: 25 investments

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Hospitality Companies

This overview of venture capital firms shows strong support for hospitality companies at the seed and early stages, suggesting a healthy appetite for new ideas and technologies in the sector. While some firms do offer late-stage funding, the primary focus appears to be on getting new businesses off the ground and helping them scale.

Geographically, there is a notable concentration of investors in San Francisco, though major hubs like New York and Miami are also represented. This mix of industry-specific and generalist tech investors gives you a variety of potential partners to consider. As you prepare your fundraising strategy, this information can help you target the right firms for your stage and focus.

Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Your time and energy are limited during a fundraise, which makes a focused list of relevant investors invaluable. We hope this guide provides a strong starting point for connecting with the right partners for your company.

Once your round is closed, the work of managing that capital begins. Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes, letting you get back to building your business.

Our platform assists you in managing newly raised capital efficiently with integrated solutions for your startup. This includes business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay to keep your finances organized from one place.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Hospitality

Are there hospitality venture capital firms outside the US?

Yes, major financial centers like London and Singapore have a strong community of hospitality investors. While our list focuses on US firms, many global venture capital firms actively seek opportunities in the travel and hospitality industry worldwide.

What do early-stage venture capital firms want to see?

Early-stage investors typically look for a strong founding team, a working product with initial customer traction, and a large addressable market. You should be able to show clear signs of product-market fit and a solid plan for growth.

How are hospitality-focused VC firms different from generalist investors?

Hospitality-focused firms offer deep industry knowledge and a relevant network of contacts. They understand the unique operational challenges and opportunities in the sector, which can make them more valuable strategic partners than generalist funds.

Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools — including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay — help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.

Do any venture capital firms specialize in hospitality real estate?

Yes, some firms specialize in the intersection of hospitality and real estate, often called "proptech." These investors focus on technologies that improve property management, guest experiences, and asset utilization for hotels, rentals, and other hospitality properties.

How can Rho help my startup manage its new funding?

Our platform provides integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay to help you manage capital effectively. You can set up your financial stack with Rho and focus on growing your business.