Experiential travel startup, WanderOn, has raised ₹54 crore in its Series A funding round. This is a milestone in the Indian travel-tech industry. DSG Consumer Partners and the Client Associates Alternate Fund (CAAF) were the co-leaders of this new capital injection. The investment is an important milestone in the history of the Gurugram-based firm that has been able to create a significant business presence before this institutional round.

Strategic utilization of the capital

The investment is timed as the travel market is shifting to curated and immersive experiences. With this capital, WanderOn will be in a position to reinforce its market and improve its service delivery. The involvement of lead investors such as DSG Consumer Partners and CAAF reflects the increased investor confidence in the experience travel market, especially those platforms that serve the emerging preferences of the younger generation.

WanderOn has provided a roadmap to the implementation of the new money that has been acquired. One of the main goals is to make the traveling experience of its growing user base more immersive and accessible. The company will also expand its destination list to provide more variety on domestically and internationally based circuits. However, the capital will support the high-growth sectors like adventure travel, sports-based trips, and wellness tourism, which have experienced increased demand in the recent past.

WanderOn will invest heavily in technology, in addition to the expansion of its physical travel offerings. It is aimed to optimize the whole traveler experience, beginning with the discovery stage till the post-trip interaction. The startup plans to become more digital and thereby offer a smoother, end-to-end experience to travelers, to make the process of planning and booking a trip as hassle-free as the actual trip itself.

Operating the D2D model and robust growth

WanderOn organizes road trips, walking tours, and personalized tours with the focus being placed on obscure sites and organic social bonds among the participants. Based on the direct-to-consumer (D2C) business model, WanderOn relies on digital narratives and engagement campaigns led by influencers to its user base. 

The approach has enabled the brand to create a community of adventure travelers. The positioning of the brand revolves around the idea of traveling unapologetically authentic and concentrates on unpolished and authentic stories that can appeal to young adults who want to experience meaningful shared experiences on their trips.

Before this Series A round, WanderOn was a bootstrapped company, having shown extraordinary financial strength and development. The firm has already grown to a company with a revenue of more than ₹100 crore, and it has actually been almost twice year-on-year in the post pandemic period.

Up to now, the platform boasts of handling in excess of 1 lakh travelers to various international and local destinations. But its emphasis on curated group travel and building community gives it a unique competitive advantage in the already competitive market. As WanderOn grows its presence and develops its own Indian-first philosophy based on experiences, it is set to become a stronger brand in the travel-tech sector, offering affordable and enjoyable adventures to the upcoming generation of adventurers.

Conclusion

The ₹54 crore Series A round led by DSG Consumer Partners and CAAF is an important milestone in the journey of WanderOn. Having shifted its successful bootstrapped model to an institutional capital-supported one, the company will join forces and boost its growth and innovativeness. The investments in technology, as well as various categories of travel, as planned is a strategic approach to fulfilling the advanced needs of contemporary Indian travelers.