Online travel platform Evaneos has raised €20 million from current investors.
The France-based company, which was founded in 2009, sees Partech, Level Equity, Quadrille Capital, XAnge, Serena Capital and Bpifrance come together to participate in the funding.
According to a statement, Evaneos – which provides customized tours in 160 destinations by connecting travelers with local agents – has seen its bookings increase 4x in 2022 versus 2021.
The company says its trips allow travelers to experience “unusual activities refined by local experts, committed to the protection
of cultures and the environment.” Evaneos became a B Corp-certified tourism company earlier this year.
The investment will be put towards strengthening Evaneos’ position in current markets including France, Spain and Germany as well as boosting its technology capabilities and adding to its research and development team.
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In a LinkedIn post, founders Yvan Wibaux and Eric la Bonnardière, say “this milestone marks our investors’ ongoing commitment to the development of a more responsible model for the travel industry.”
Evaneos says 87% of the cost of each trip goes to local agents and small businesses within the destinations it serves. In addition, the company donates a percentage of trips sold through its Better Trips fund. According to its website, by 2025 Evaneos plans to set aside more than three million euros to “accelerate the transformation of the tourism industry.”
Wibaux and la Bonnardière add: “More than half a million travelers have already placed their trust in Evaneos. We can also include our investors, who have supported us during our years of strong growth, during the crisis and now in the recovery phase of our business. We have believed in our model since its creation. Today we’re working to bring Evaneos to new audiences and to deepen our connection with all our stakeholders: investors, employees, travelers and partners. It’s most important for us to work together, as we shake up an industry that needs to rethink the way it operates.”
And says Veronique Jacq, director of digital venture activity at BPI France, “Evaneos has emerged stronger after the tourism crisis. The company has consolidated its strengths: both the technology-driven business model and trips that respect the environment as well as local economies. We are delighted to contribute to the new round which will give Evaneos the resources to become the leader in responsible tourism.”
The company raised $80 million in 2018 saying at the time that it was eyeing the United States for further expansion. Prior to the $80 million, Evaneos had raised $21 million in a Series C round in mid-2016.
