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Airbnb has led a $58 million Series C funding round in WeRoad, the Milan-based group travel startup preparing for its first major expansion outside Europe. The investment gives Airbnb a strategic 10% stake and a board seat, while WeRoad plans to use the new capital to enter the US market, starting with Austin.
WeRoad said the new funding brings its total capital raised to about $100 million. Existing investor H14 also joined the round. The company plans to use the funds to grow its US operations, expand its coordinator network, build local partnerships, and increase marketing activity.
The company, founded in Italy in 2017, organizes group trips for solo travelers. Its model focuses on shared travel experiences, age-based groups, and curated itineraries. WeRoad says it has taken more than 300,000 travelers on trips across over 1,000 itineraries worldwide.
Austin will become the first major US launch city. WeRoad plans to recruit local group leaders, organize events, and form community partnerships before expanding further. The company will also use WeMeet, its local events app, as part of the US rollout.
“We’ll be launching WeMeet events across multiple US cities throughout 2026, starting with Austin because of its incredible energy and vibrant community scene,” Co-Founder Paolo De Nadai said.
WeRoad aims to serve younger travelers who want structured trips and social connection. The company groups customers by shared interests and travel styles, including beach trips, skiing, adventure travel, and shorter weekend formats for new users.
Before each trip starts, travelers join a WhatsApp group managed by a group leader. This allows members to meet before departure. Groups usually include eight to fifteen people, while most itineraries last between 10 and 12 days.
“The biggest concern people have is rarely the destination,” De Nadai said. He added that travelers often worry more about whether they will connect with the group.
To address that issue, WeRoad designs its itineraries around group interaction. More active or collaborative activities often happen early in the trip to help travelers build trust. The company says about 60% of customers later book another trip.
Instead of traditional tour guides, WeRoad uses group leaders. These coordinators are closer in age to travelers and focus on group management, planning, and social flow. The company now works with more than 4,000 group leaders worldwide.
“We’re not looking for destination experts, but for people with travel experience and strong soft skills,” De Nadai said.
WeRoad has also moved beyond travel through WeMeet, an app launched in 2025 for local in-person gatherings. The app supports dinners, hikes, yoga classes, running groups, after-work drinks, and board game nights.
The company says more than 50,000 people attended WeMeet events across 35 cities last year. It also reported 150,000 app downloads. WeRoad positions WeMeet as part of the “IRL economy,” where technology supports offline connection rather than long online engagement.
The funding round also comes with a leadership change. Andrea D’Amico, WeRoad’s chief executive since 2022, is leaving the company to lead Airbnb’s hotels division. Before joining WeRoad, D’Amico spent 18 years at Booking.com across its Europe, Middle East, and Africa hotel business.
WeRoad has not yet named a new chief executive. Reports say the company is conducting a board search, while an internal candidate may take the role on an interim basis.
WeRoad reported €130 million in revenue in 2025, up 30% year over year. It also said more than 100,000 travelers used its trips last year, as the company prepares to test whether its European group travel model can scale in the US
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