German startup Tourlane, the planning and booking platform for customized, exclusive multi-day trips, has raised an additional approx. €16.8 million as an extension of their 2019 Series C funding round. Previous investors Sequoia Capital, Spark Capital, DN Capital, and HV Capital, as well as both founders, participated in the round – boosting the company’s total capital raised to over €84 million. The funding gives Tourlane financial stability, allowing the company to pursue its customer-centric vision of creating an end-to-end experience for booking unique individual trips based on advanced technology and travel expertise.
“We deeply believe that this pandemic is an opportunity to rethink travel, and will be a catalyst for the Tourlane business model,” said Julian Stiefel, co-CEO and co-founder of Tourlane. “With this latest funding round, we are continuing to invest in our technology and product experience, while at the same time ensuring maximum flexibility for our customers.”
“When the crisis hit us earlier this year, our team made an incredible effort to adjust strategy, adapt to a new reality, and get ready for the new demand when the market bounces back,” Julian Weselek, co-CEO and co-founder of Tourlane added. “In these unprecedented times, the commitment from our investors is a strong signal of confidence in our strategy, the Tourlane business model, and what’s to come in the future.”
Founded in 2016, Tourlane’s unique service combines the advantages of technology, data, and expert travel consulting. The company works directly with providers in more than 50 destinations globally, offering customers the chance to book flights, accommodations, tours, activities, and transfer options, all in one place. With Tourlane, travelers avoid frustration and save time coordinating multiple bookings from different vendors, while a dedicated team of safety and security advisors ensures a worry-free planning and trip experience.
“Tourlane has the tremendous opportunity to redefine the way people experience travel,” Andrew Reed, Partner at Sequoia Capital, noted. “We are excited to continue our partnership in this next chapter supporting Tourlane’s technological innovation and growth in the years to come.”
“We were impressed by Tourlane’s ability to quickly and consistently adapt their strategy during such a turbulent year,” said Christian Saller, Chairman of the Board of Tourlane and General Partner at HV Capital. “The new investment will help to quickly transition into growth mode when the market recovers. We are more convinced than ever that Tourlane is perfectly positioned to create the best experience in travel.”
Nice. Both founders invested, as well. Would be great to mention founders also partially cashed out during the C round with secondaries. So reading this as: investors want some of that secondary money back – if only in the company.