Gurugram, India | January 2026: Experiential travel and adventure brand WanderOn has raised ₹54 crore ($6.5 million) in a Series A funding round co-led by DSG Consumer Partners and CAAF.
The fresh capital will be used to expand its destination portfolio, strengthen adventure, sports-led, and wellness travel categories, and invest in travel technology to create more immersive and accessible travel experiences for young Indian travelers, the company said in a press release.
Reimagining Travel for India’s New-Age Explorers
Founded in 2017 by Chirag Jain, Ravi Khokher, Madhusudan Jaju, and Govind Gaur, WanderOn has emerged as one of India’s leading experiential and community-driven travel startups. The platform curates road trips, treks, custom tours, and offbeat experiences tailored for millennials and Gen Z, both in India and overseas.
The startup operates on a direct-to-consumer (D2C) model, offering seamless, end-to-end travel solutions through digital storytelling, influencer-led engagement, and a strong social media community. Its approach combines adventure with accessibility, focusing on budget-friendly yet premium travel experiences designed for community connection and cultural exploration.
“Our vision has always been to make travel more immersive, social, and purpose-driven. With this investment, we aim to expand WanderOn into new categories like sports and wellness travel while enhancing technology to deliver seamless journeys for our growing traveller base,” said Chirag Jain, Co-founder and CEO of WanderOn.
Building a Community of Explorers
WanderOn isn’t just a travel booking platform — it’s a community-driven travel ecosystem. The brand has built strong traction among India’s young working professionals and travel enthusiasts by focusing on shared experiences, storytelling, and social connections.
The company has served over 1,00,000 travellers across 40+ domestic and international destinations, including Spiti, Ladakh, Vietnam, Bali, and Europe. The startup reports a high repeat customer rate, attributing its success to community-building and personalized itineraries.
Bootstrapped Growth to Venture-Backed Expansion
Before this Series A raise, WanderOn had been bootstrapped and profitable, achieving over ₹100 crore in annual revenue. Post-pandemic, the company has witnessed 2x year-on-year growth, fueled by a surge in demand for offbeat, group, and adventure travel among young Indians.
With this funding, WanderOn aims to:
Expand to new international destinations in Europe and Southeast Asia.
Strengthen its domestic experiential offerings, including treks, expeditions, and wellness retreats.
Enhance its technology platform to deliver personalized travel recommendations, community interaction tools, and real-time itinerary tracking.
Scale partnerships with sports tourism operators, wellness resorts, and eco-conscious stays.
Technology Meets Travel: The Future of Experiential Journeys
The travel-tech platform is integrating AI and data-driven insights to personalize travel experiences — from planning and booking to on-ground support. The upcoming WanderOn mobile app, expected to launch later in 2026, will focus on community interaction, group trip management, and custom travel curation.
WanderOn’s digital-first marketing strategy has also played a crucial role in its success. By leveraging content-driven storytelling, influencer collaborations, and UGC (user-generated content) on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, the brand has organically built one of the most engaged travel communities in India.
Competing in a Growing Travel-Tech Market
India’s travel-tech and experiential tourism market is rapidly expanding, driven by increasing disposable incomes, digital adoption, and post-pandemic travel trends. The domestic adventure and group travel segment alone is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 17% by 2030, according to industry reports.
WanderOn competes — directly or indirectly — with other travel startups such as Thrillophilia, Tripoto, TravelTriangle, and Holidify, but differentiates itself through its community-first approach, curated itineraries, and tech-enabled user experience.
Investor Confidence in India’s Travel-Tech Future
Commenting on the investment, Deepak Shahdadpuri, Managing Director at DSG Consumer Partners, said:
“WanderOn is tapping into a powerful shift in how young Indians travel — seeking experiences, not just destinations. Their strong community, brand loyalty, and technology-led platform make them well-positioned to dominate India’s growing experiential travel segment.”
With this funding, WanderOn plans to deepen its presence in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, explore B2B collaborations with hospitality partners, and continue expanding globally.
Conclusion: Travel, Technology, and Transformation
As India’s youth increasingly value experiences over possessions, WanderOn is redefining what modern travel looks like — social, adventurous, and meaningful.
Armed with fresh capital, a loyal community, and a proven D2C model, the startup is well-positioned to lead India’s next wave of tech-enabled, community-driven travel innovation.
Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape.