Heygo has already booked 2 million tours since November 2020 that range from exploring Paris’ neighborhoods to ski tours of Canada’s Banff National Park.
and has continued to grow even with travel reopening in large parts of Europe and North America, according to John Tertan, co-founder and CEO at Heygo.
Tertan says the round led by venture fund Northzone, alongside Lightspeed Venture Partners and Berlin-based Point Nine Capital, would allow Heygo to invest in building out its streaming technology, and the community aspect of its app. “People come for the experience but they stay because they become friends with the guide or with each other and it’s about enhancing that side of the platform,” he says.
, TripAdvisor-owned Viator, and Airbnb Experiences have largely focused on acting as booking platforms for excursions and activities. YouTube, Meta, and Twitch also offer hours and hours of live-streamed travel content but Tertan says that Heygo could offer a dedicated home to the “passion economy.”