Existing investors in the Italy-based platform also participated in the round, which brings the company’s total funding to $100 million. WeRoad announced Series B funding of €18 million in late 2023.
The investment will go towards WeRoad's expansion to the U.S. market, marking its first push beyond Europe. The company said more than 300,000 travelers have used the platform since its launch in 2017.
Last year the company unveiled its WeMeet initiative as a platform for “local, curated social gatherings” and WeRoad plans to use these events to help with its U.S. launch. The company said it has attracted 50,000 people across 35 cities to the events across so far.
"In a world increasingly shaped by AI and social media, genuine human connection is becoming both rarer and more valuable,” said Paolo De Nadai, founder of WeRoad, “At WeRoad, we’ve built our entire product around enabling real-world connections through shared travel experiences. People today are not just looking to visit new places, they’re looking to belong. Expanding into the US is a milestone we’ve been working towards for years, and having Airbnb alongside us is both a strong validation of what we’ve built and a powerful signal of the opportunity ahead.”
Airbnb has made no secret of its ambition to build a community around its platform in recent months and some updates unveiled at its Summer release had a social flavor to them. CEO Brian Chesky also shared how the company is currently thinking about its wider investment strategy during a media roundtable.
Following the build, buy, partner, invest line of thinking adopted by many, he said Airbnb's Instacart initiative was a clear example of where partnering is the right course. Chesky said initiatives around "memories and meaning" that involve hosts would be built internally by the company. He added that the company was open to acquisitions.
On community building specifically Chesky said Airbnb was more likely to build internally but added that it is looking at some partnerships and brands.
News of Airbnb's investment in WeRoad came as the adventure travel company's CEO Andrea D'Amico leaves to take on the role of vice president of hotels at Airbnb. D'Amico is remaining as a board director of WeRoad.
