List of the 800 largest Travel Venture Capital Investors [2024]

List of 5 large travel venture capital investors

The travel industry is one of the world’s largest service sectors, involving the transport of people to various destinations and the integration of related industries, such as hospitality, along the way. In today’s increasingly digital world, the demand for innovative solutions has driven significant growth in the travel technology (traveltech) sector, revolutionising the way people plan, book and experience travel. This article highlights five significant travel venture capital investors based on our keyword-crawler and high-quality list.

1. JetBlue Technology Ventures (San Francisco, USA)

Founded in 2016 as the venture capital arm of JetBlue Airways, JetBlue Technology Ventures focuses on early-stage startups innovating in travel, hospitality and transportation. The firm’s investments aim to transform the travel experience while promoting sustainability and efficiency. Its portfolio includes Universal Hydrogen, a pioneer in hydrogen-powered aviation technology, and Joby Aviation, a leader in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. JetBlue Technology Ventures also supports Flyr Labs, which uses artificial intelligence to optimise airline revenue management. With a mission to shape the future of travel, the company aligns its investments with emerging technologies that promise a cleaner, smarter and more connected travel experience.

Update 2024: In 2024, JetBlue Technology Ventures expanded its portfolio by backing ClearJet, a pioneering logistics platform that is transforming the e-commerce supply chain. Founded by Chris Guggenheim, ClearJet enables retailers to build nationwide 2-day delivery networks while optimising shipping routes and leveraging real-time airline cargo capacity data.

2. MairDumont Ventures (Ostfildern, Germany)

Headquartered in Ostfildern, Germany, MairDumont Ventures specialises in supporting digital travel companies that enhance the traveller experience through innovative solutions. Its portfolio includes Holidu, a search engine for holiday rentals, and PaulCamper, a peer-to-peer motorhome rental platform. The company has also backed CamperDays, which simplifies the process of renting a camper van globally. By focusing on digital platforms, MairDumont Ventures helps startups meet the evolving needs of the modern traveller, from seamless trip planning to sustainable travel options, and plays a pivotal role in shaping Europe’s digital travel ecosystem.

3. 500 Startups (Palo Alto, USA)

500 Startups is a global venture capital firm with a diverse portfolio of over 2,400 companies, including significant investments in the travel sector. Its travel portfolio includes TourRadar, a guided adventure tour booking platform, and Klook, an app that streamlines the booking of travel activities, experiences and services. With more than $2.3 billion in assets under management, 500 Startups focuses on backing innovative startups that make travel more accessible and enjoyable. The firm’s global footprint allows it to identify and invest in travel technologies that address regional and international travel challenges, ensuring a broad impact on the industry.

4. Antler (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Founded in 2017, Antler is a global early-stage venture capital firm that invests in startups across a range of sectors, including travel. The firm’s travel portfolio includes Airalo, a provider of eSIM technology for international travellers, and Unravel, a platform that provides personalised travel recommendations based on AI. Antler’s investments focus on improving convenience and personalisation for travellers, addressing key pain points such as connectivity and itinerary planning. With a strong network of entrepreneurs and industry experts, Antler empowers travel startups to create solutions that redefine how people explore the world.

5. FJ Labs (New York, USA)

FJ Labs is a venture capital firm specialising in online marketplaces and consumer-facing startups, with notable investments in the travel industry. Its portfolio includes Dharma, a platform that simplifies group travel bookings, and Fairlyne, which enables the resale of non-refundable travel bookings. These investments reflect FJ Labs’ commitment to supporting innovative business models that optimise the efficiency and accessibility of travel services. With over $200 million in assets under management, FJ Labs has established itself as a key player in fostering new ideas that meet the evolving needs of travellers worldwide.

Picture Source: Skyler Smith

Included information in our list

Our keyword analysis-based list includes the following general columns:

• Name of the VC fund
• Country of origin
• URL
• E-mail (general)
• Investment focus (if data available)
• Corporate VC (yes/no)

The following columns are based on the keyword crawler, which is a Python-based, in-house developed tool that crawls every page for at least 45 seconds to find the respective keywords.

• total_frequency (e.g.: 1435) – total counted occurrences of keywords on the VC website
• average_keyword_rate (e.g. 0.11) – average rate of keyword occurrences per subpage in relation with total number of words
• most_common_keyword (e.g. „travel“) – keyword that was counted the most often on respective VC website
• most_common_keyword_frequency (e.g. 12448) – number of times the most common keyword was counted
• sub_url_highest_rate (e.g. https://tripventures.com/#portfolio) – sub url with the highest number of found keywords
• highest_rate (e.g. 0.15) – highest keyword rate per subpage
• frequency_per_keyword: {‘travel’: 191, ‘tourism’: 7, ‘vacation’: 1, ‘traveltech’: 0} – dictionary of number of keyword occurrences per keyword

Picture Source: Z