Top 5 Venture Capital Firms Investing in Travel Startups

For founders in the Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality sectors, preparing to raise capital means finding investors who truly get your business. Approaching the right venture capital firms—those with experience in travel tech or mobility—is crucial. It saves you time and connects you with partners who can offer more than just money.

To help you find the right fit, our team at Rho curated this overview of top VC firms investing in the travel industry. Use this guide to quickly understand the key players and identify investors who are actively funding companies like yours.

Just raised, or about to? Set up your financial stack with Rho in minutes. Rho provides business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay—built for startup teams moving fast.

Which VC Firms in Travel Are Right for Your Stage?

Whether your company is in its early stages or preparing for an exit, it helps to know who to talk to. Here is a quick overview of which VC firms in the travel sector invest at each stage.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Travel

This initial funding stage is for founders who are just starting out, often with an idea or a minimum viable product, and need capital to achieve product-market fit. For travel startups at this stage, firms like Primer Sazze Partners and JetBlue Ventures are actively investing.

Early Stage VC Firms in Travel

Early-stage funding, typically Series A or B, helps you scale your operations and grow your team once you have demonstrated traction. Some early-stage VC firms in travel to consider are Thayer Ventures and Derive Ventures, both of which have experience backing hospitality and travel technology companies.

Late Stage VC Firms in Travel

Late-stage rounds are for established companies looking to expand significantly, enter new markets, or prepare for an exit through an acquisition or IPO. Travel-focused venture capital firms like PAR Capital Management and Thayer Ventures have a track record of supporting companies through these later phases of growth.

Keep in mind that many venture capital firms, including several mentioned here, invest across all funding stages.

Here is a closer look at the top VC firms specializing in travel. We've outlined their investment stages, geographic focus, and what makes each a compelling choice for founders.

1. Thayer Ventures

Based in San Francisco, Thayer Ventures has been investing exclusively in travel and hospitality technology since 2007. The firm supports companies across their entire lifecycle, providing capital for seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture rounds.

Thayer has a strong record of backing companies that achieve significant scale, including unicorn successes like Sonder and Mews. Their portfolio highlights a focus on industry-defining B2B platforms, such as Duetto's revenue-management software and Canary Technologies' guest-management solutions.

This firm is an excellent match for founders building technology that solves core problems for the travel and hospitality industries. If your company has a clear path to becoming an essential platform for hotels or travel providers, Thayer’s deep industry expertise could be a great asset.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Travel and Hospitality Technology
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Founded: 2007
• Notable portfolio companies: Sonder, Mews, Uplift, Duetto
• Number of investments: 65

You can refer to their website here.

2. Primer Sazze Partners

Primer Sazze Partners is a California-based firm that backs companies with ambitious, world-changing ideas. They focus on seed and early-stage ventures, providing foundational capital to help founders get started.

The firm invests across several sectors, including travel, social, and cloud computing, signaling a broad interest in technology-driven businesses. Their portfolio includes companies like the music-analytics platform Chartmetric and the AI startup Upstage AI, showing a preference for data-intensive and technically complex models.

This firm is a good fit if you are an early-stage founder with a big vision that extends beyond a single niche. If your company has the potential to create a new market or fundamentally change an existing one, their approach may align well with your goals.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Travel, Cloud Computing, Content, Social
• Geographical presence: San Jose, California
• Founded: 2018
• Notable portfolio companies: Chartmetric, Tapas Media, Cupix, Upstage AI
• Number of investments: 124

You can refer to their website here.

3. JetBlue Ventures

As the corporate venture capital arm of JetBlue, the firm invests in seed-stage startups that are shaping the future of travel and hospitality. They provide strategic capital to companies improving the entire travel experience, from booking to arrival.

Their portfolio shows a clear focus on technologies with direct applications to the aviation and travel industries, including sustainable e-fuels and advanced weather prediction. Successful exits, like the Joby Aviation SPAC merger and the acquisition of TurnKey Vacation Rentals, highlight their ability to back companies through to significant outcomes.

This firm is a strong match for founders whose technology can directly benefit an airline or the broader travel ecosystem. If your startup addresses challenges in operations, sustainability, or customer experience, their industry access is a major asset.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Travel, Aerospace, Hospitality
• Geographical presence: San Carlos, California
• Founded: 2016
• Notable portfolio companies: Joby Aviation, Tomorrow.io, Aether Fuels
• Number of investments: 58

You can refer to their website here.

4. Derive Ventures

Derive Ventures is a San Francisco-based firm that invests in companies advancing the travel and hospitality industries. They provide capital across multiple funding rounds, supporting founders from the seed stage through later venture stages.

The firm’s portfolio indicates a focus on software and fintech platforms that serve the travel, hospitality, and real estate sectors. Investments in companies like Bilt Rewards and Canary Technologies show an interest in businesses that provide core infrastructure for these industries.

Derive Ventures is a good fit for founders building scalable technology solutions with clear B2B or fintech applications. If your company is creating tools that improve operations or financial services for hospitality or travel, their expertise could be valuable.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Hospitality, Travel, Real Estate, Software
• Geographical presence: San Francisco, California
• Founded: 2021
• Notable portfolio companies: Bilt Rewards, Canary Technologies, Cardless, Rain
• Number of investments: 26

You can refer to their website here.

5. PAR Capital Management

PAR Capital Management is a Boston-based investment firm with a long-term focus. Since its founding in 1990, the firm has built a strong reputation for backing companies in the travel and financial services industries.

The firm invests across all stages, from seed to post-IPO, showing a capacity to support companies through their entire growth journey. Their portfolio includes well-known public companies like Zillow and Chegg, alongside key travel-tech players such as SilverRail Technologies and Uplift.

This firm is a compelling choice for founders of established companies with significant traction and a clear path to market leadership. If you are building a platform business aiming for a large-scale exit, their experience could be a strong asset.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, late-stage, and post-IPO
• Industries of focus: Financial Services, Travel
• Geographical presence: Boston, Massachusetts
• Founded: 1990
• Notable portfolio companies: Zillow, Chegg, SilverRail Technologies, Uplift, BookingPal
• Number of investments: 37

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Travel Companies

This review of top VCs shows a well-balanced funding environment for companies in the travel sector. You'll find investors active across all stages, from seed to late-stage. Firms like Thayer Ventures and PAR Capital Management support companies throughout their growth, while others like Primer Sazze Partners concentrate on providing initial capital. This means that whether you have an early idea or a proven business model, there are potential partners available.

While there is a strong concentration of firms in California, the presence of investors like Boston-based PAR Capital Management indicates that opportunities are not confined to one region. The mix of corporate VCs, such as JetBlue Ventures, and traditional investment firms also provides you with different types of strategic partners to consider. This variety gives you options to find an investor whose model and expertise best fit your company's needs.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Fundraising requires significant time and energy, so approaching the right investors is key. A focused list helps you connect with partners who already value what you're building in the travel space.

Once you've secured capital, our team is ready to support your company's next phase of growth. Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes.

We provide integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay to help you manage your new funds efficiently. This gives you the financial control needed to scale your operations with confidence.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Travel

Which New York venture capital firms invest in travel?

New York is home to many VCs that fund travel and hospitality startups. These firms often focus on consumer-facing platforms, fintech, and real estate tech, providing capital and connections in a key global market.

Are there many Europe venture capital firms for travel startups?

Yes, Europe has a strong ecosystem of VCs for travel tech, with hubs in London, Berlin, and Paris. These firms often seek companies that address the specific needs of the diverse European travel and tourism market.

What is the role of corporate venture capital firms in travel?

Corporate VCs, like JetBlue Ventures, offer more than just capital. They provide direct industry access, strategic guidance, and potential pilot programs within their parent company, helping you accelerate product-market fit and distribution.

How are angel investors and venture capital firms different for travel startups?

Angel investors usually provide smaller, earlier capital based on personal belief in your idea. VCs invest larger amounts from a managed fund, take a board seat, and provide structured support to help your travel company scale.

What do travel technology venture capital firms look for?

Travel tech VCs look for a strong team solving a major industry problem. You'll need to show a scalable business model, early market traction, and a clear competitive advantage to secure their investment.

How can Rho help after I raise from a travel-focused venture capital firm?

After your raise, Rho helps you manage your new capital. We provide integrated banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay, giving you the financial control to scale your business with confidence and focus on growth.