Introducing the First Captain of Season 6!

We’re thrilled to kick off Season 6 of Travel Trends and our Captain of Industry series with Chris Hemmeter, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Thayer Ventures, for a powerhouse conversation on the future of travel and tech investment.

Chris opens the black box of venture capital, revealing what investors really look for in founders, how to stand out when raising funds, and why 2026 is set to be a defining year for travel entrepreneurs. With a proven track record as both a founder and an investor in industry-shaping companies like Sonder, Muse, and Canary Technologies, he brings hard-won insights every innovator needs to know.

Season 5 is here, and we couldn’t be prouder to announce that we are now the #1 B2B podcast globally! This season is going to massive with over 25 new episodes featuring exclusive insights from 35+ industry leaders like TikTok, Expedia, Google, and much more.

To kick off Season 5, we wanted to explore how investors are viewing the travel industry in 2025 so we brought together 3 leading investors including Kevin Tsang from Amex Ventures, Cara Whitehill from Thayer Ventures, and Matt Zito from Travel Startups. They bring a wealth of knowledge from their respective firms, shedding light on the strategies behind venture capital and the dynamic shifts within the travel industry. Our conversation highlights market opportunities, effective pitch strategies, and the evolving role of technology in shaping the future of travel startups.