Travel agency startup Fora has reached unicorn status after closing a $60 million Series D funding round, the company announced. The round was led by Forerunner and Tactile Ventures, with participation from Insight Partners and Thrive Capital, and values the company at $1 billion. Founded in 2021, Fora has now raised a total of $138.5 million.
A dual-platform approach
Fora operates a two-sided platform that enables anyone to become a travel agent by providing tools for client communication and trip planning, while also allowing travelers to find and work with advisors for occasions like honeymoons or family trips to destinations such as Costa Rica or Thailand. Since its launch, agents on the platform have booked over $3 billion in travel, with most users being new to the travel advising industry.
AI assistant Via gets a boost
Part of the fresh capital will be used to expand Fora’s AI assistant, Via, which helps agents with administrative tasks like research and itinerary building. The goal is to free up human agents to focus more on building client relationships, enhancing productivity rather than replacing the human touch. Fora also plans to hire and grow into new travel categories, including cruises and flights.