WeTravel, a graduate of UC Berkeley's SkyDeck accelerator, has been backed by The House Fund as it prepares to take its travel booking software overseas.
WeTravel, a US-based travel booking software provider incubated at University of California (UC), Berkeley, secured $2m on Tuesday in a seed round featuring Berkeley-focused startup institute The House.
The round included startup accelerator and VC firm 500 Startups and VC firm Amino Capital, as well additional backers that included Brett Wilson, formerly chief executive of advertising software producer TubeMogul, who will join WeTravel’s board of directors.
The House took part through The House Fund, a $6m vehicle supported by UC Ventures, an investment arm of UC.
WeTravel has developed a payment software platform that enables travel agencies to accept payments, design booking pages and manage factors such as promotion, communication or finances.
Two of the company’s three co-founders – chief executive Johannes Köppel and chief marketing officer Zaky Prabowo – attended UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, and WeTravel has participated in UC Berkeley’s SkyDeck accelerator.
Much of the platform’s growth has come from small and medium-sized travel businesses, but it is also used by individuals organising group travel bookings, such as wedding coordinators or yoga teachers.
WeTravel will use the proceeds from the round to pursue expansion overseas, having recently opened an office in Europe. Additional funds will go to recruitment and platform development.
The company raised an undisclosed amount from VC fund Khazar Ventures in 2016 after securing $30,000 from unnamed angel investors two years before. Brett Wilson was among its early investors, along with university-backed accelerator Foundation Capital, Berkeley Founder’s Program and Dorm Room Fund.
