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Thayer Ventures

North America, California, United States, San Francisco

Description

Thayer Ventures is a prominent San Francisco-based venture capital firm exclusively focused on the burgeoning travel and hospitality technology sector. Established with a deep understanding of the industry's unique dynamics, the firm strategically invests in companies that are poised to innovate and disrupt traditional models. Their investment thesis centers on identifying early-stage and growth-stage companies that leverage technology to enhance various aspects of travel, from booking and accommodation to in-destination experiences and operational efficiencies.

The firm's approach extends beyond mere capital injection; Thayer Ventures positions itself as a strategic partner, offering portfolio companies access to an extensive network of industry veterans, corporate partners, and fellow entrepreneurs. This hands-on, sector-specific expertise is a key differentiator, enabling them to provide invaluable guidance on product development, market entry, and scaling challenges unique to the travel industry. They seek to back visionary founders who are building scalable solutions that address significant pain points or unlock new opportunities within this global market.

Thayer Ventures has demonstrated consistent growth and commitment to its niche, successfully raising multiple funds over the years. This includes Thayer Ventures Fund II, which closed at $50 million in 2014, followed by Thayer Ventures Fund III, closing at $70 million in 2018. Most recently, the firm announced the close of Thayer Ventures Fund IV at $100 million in 2022, underscoring its expanding capacity and continued confidence in the travel tech landscape. These funds typically deploy initial checks ranging from $1 million to $5 million, targeting companies ready for significant growth.

With a portfolio that includes notable names in the travel tech space, Thayer Ventures has played a crucial role in fostering innovation within the sector. Their specialized focus allows for a concentrated effort in understanding market trends and identifying promising ventures, solidifying their reputation as a leading investor in travel and hospitality technology.

Investor Profile

Thayer Ventures has backed more than 66 startups, with 8 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 15 rounds, about 23% of its total and boasts 8 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series A, Series B, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, Switzerland, Czech Republic.
  • Strong thematic focus on Travel, Software, SaaS.
  • Led 1 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $1M – $5M.

Stage Focus

  • Series A (38%)
  • Series B (24%)
  • Series Unknown (11%)
  • Seed (11%)
  • Series C (9%)
  • Series D (6%)
  • Convertible Note (2%)

Country Focus

  • United States (83%)
  • Switzerland (8%)
  • Czech Republic (5%)
  • Canada (2%)
  • Mexico (2%)
  • Israel (2%)

Industry Focus

  • Travel
  • Software
  • Saas
  • Hospitality
  • Enterprise Software
  • Mobile
  • Hotel
  • Loyalty Programs
  • Leisure
  • Information Technology
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does Thayer Ventures frequently co-invest with?

Swisscanto Private Equity
Europe, Zurich, Switzerland, Zürich
Co-Investments: 5
Edenred Capital Partners
Europe, England, United Kingdom, London
Co-Investments: 4
Energize Capital
North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago
Co-Investments: 4
Y Combinator
North America, California, United States, Mountain View
Co-Investments: 5
Verve Ventures
Europe, Zug, Switzerland, Zug
Co-Investments: 4
Alpana Ventures
Europe, Geneve, Switzerland, Geneva
Co-Investments: 5
F-Prime Capital
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge
Co-Investments: 6
Commerce Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 5
PAR Capital Management
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Co-Investments: 5
Derive Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 5

Which angels does Thayer Ventures often collaborate with?

SR
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 1
MB
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 2
JK
North America, Michigan, United States, Detroit
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1
RS
North America, California, United States, Santa Monica
Shared Deals: 1
RT
North America, Washington, United States, Seattle
Shared Deals: 1
BH
North America, Washington, United States, Seattle
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1
AK
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 1
David Hamamoto
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Thayer Ventures?

Canary Technologies

San Francisco, California, United States

Canary Technologies provides a digital guest management platform for hotels streamlining check-in, messaging, payments, and upsells.

Enterprise SoftwareHospitalityHotelProductivity Tools
Series DJun 12, 2025
Amount Raised: $80,000,000
DIAMO

New York, New York, United States

DIAMO is a revenue-generating technology designed specifically for independent hotels.

Web Development
SeedApr 9, 2025
Amount Raised: $4,000,000
Rain

New York, New York, United States

Rain is a finance company that provides credit card services with technical support for secure transactions to web3 and crypto companies.

BlockchainCryptocurrencyDecentralized Finance (DeFi)FinTechWeb3
Series AMar 24, 2025
Amount Raised: $24,500,000
Safara

Los Angeles, California, United States

Empowering independent hotels and reshaping the way consumers book hotels

HotelMarketplaceSaaSTravel
Series UnknownDec 19, 2024
Amount Raised: $7,300,000
TripSuite

Brooklyn, New York, United States

TripSuite is a venture-backed SaaS startup catering to travel agencies.

CRMInformation TechnologySaaS
SeedDec 19, 2024
Amount Raised: $5,000,000
Cardless

San Francisco, California, United States

Cardless operates the leading platform for consumer brands to launch credit card products.

Credit CardsFinanceFinTech
Series UnknownNov 26, 2024
Amount Raised: $30,000,000
Bounce

San Francisco, California, United States

Bounce provides luggage storage for travelers and tourists in cities across the world.

LogisticsMobileSelf-Storage
Series BNov 12, 2024
Amount Raised: $19,000,000
point.me

New York, New York, United States

Point.me is a travel engagement platform that connects consumers to loyalty programs with the reward flights for their points.

ConsultingInformation ServicesLoyalty ProgramsSubscription ServiceTravel
Series BSep 18, 2024
Amount Raised: $15,000,000
Canary Technologies

San Francisco, California, United States

Canary Technologies provides hotels and other lodging properties with technology solutions to increase productivity and manage bookings.

Enterprise SoftwareHospitalityHotelProductivity Tools
Series CJun 12, 2024
Amount Raised: $50,000,000
NLX

New York, New York, United States

NLX offers platform for automating customer experiences across channels with advanced AI and language models.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Customer ServiceMachine LearningSaaS
Series AFeb 26, 2024
Amount Raised: $12,000,000