What's Next for Leading Travel Tech Investor Thayer Ventures?
Skift Take
Big Tech flies to the Code conference, and politicians flock to Davos. But travel tech professionals don't have their own premiere, invitation-only event. The next-best thing is a conference run by Thayer, an investment firm. Here's a briefing.
Travel Tech Briefing
Editor’s Note: Exclusive reporting on technology’s impact on the travel industry, delivered every Thursday. The briefing will guide executives as they decide if their companies should “build, buy, or partner” to stay ahead.You can't write a weekly briefing on travel tech without eventually covering Thayer Ventures.
No other traditional venture capital firm based in the U.S. has bet on more travel startups in the past decade than Thayer has.This year's annual meeting of Thayer's limited partners drew no less of a star than Anthony "Tony" Capuano — CEO of the world's largest hotel company, Marriott International. The private gathering in Washington, D.C., took place last week.Thayer's lead trophy investment is Sonder. The hospitality startup is expected to go public soon at more than a $2 billion valuation via a special purpose acquisition company.I believe a few Thayer portfolio companies have the most potential to someday reach Sonder-levels of valuation. These are:
Inspirato, a subscription-based luxury travel company offering vacation rentals and apartment stays worldwide. This year, blank check company Thayer Ventures Acquisition Corp. plans to merge with in a deal with an enterprise value of $1.1 billion. Life House is a tech savvy hotel operator that touted impressive growth when its CEO Rami Zeidan spoke at a September industry trade show in Dallas. Tha