Top 36 Hotel Startups to Watch in 2026
The hotel industry is being reshaped by companies focused on both technology and guest services. This list highlights startups from property management software to new accommodation models.
It includes major companies like South Korea's Yanolja, which has raised $2B, and Prague's Mews with over $517M in funding. You will also find K9 Resorts, a luxury hotel chain for pets.
Below is our list of 36 Hotel startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 10 Picks
Mews builds a cloud-based property management system designed to simplify operations for modern hoteliers. The platform is built to automate tasks from booking to check-out, allowing properties to focus more on their guests.
| Headquarters | Prague, Hlavni mesto Praha, Czech Republic |
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Richard Valtr |
| Funding Amount | $517.3M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series E |
| Top Investors | Salesforce Ventures, Battery Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Tiger Global Management, henQ |
SevenRooms builds a guest experience and retention platform that helps hospitality operators create direct relationships with their customers. Their software unifies key operational tools, including reservations, marketing automation, and guest profiles, to help businesses increase revenue and loyalty.
| Headquarters | New York, New York, United States |
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Allison Page, Joel Montaniel, Kinesh Patel |
| Funding Amount | $69.9M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | BoxGroup, PSG Equity, Amazon Alexa Fund, Comcast Ventures, Daniel Schryer |
Lighthouse builds a commercial intelligence platform for the travel and hospitality industry. Their software provides real-time market data and pricing recommendations to help hotels and rental operators optimize revenue.
| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Adriaan Coppens, Gino Engels, Matthias Geeroms |
| Funding Amount | $470M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Spectrum Equity, F-Prime, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Eight Roads Ventures, Venrex |
Kasa Living operates a collection of tech-enabled, flexible-stay accommodations for business and leisure travelers. They offer professionally managed apartments and hotel rooms that aim to combine the consistency of a hotel with the comforts of a personal residence.
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Roman Pedan |
| Funding Amount | $166.3M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | BoxGroup, Fireside Ventures, Founder Collective, FirstMark, Ribbit Capital |
Canary Technologies builds a digital platform to help hotels manage the entire guest journey, from booking to check-out. Their tools streamline operations like contactless check-in, guest messaging, digital payments, and upselling opportunities.
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Harman Singh Narula, SJ Sawhney |
| Funding Amount | $177M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series D |
| Top Investors | Insight Partners, Y Combinator, Commerce Ventures, Pioneer Fund, F-Prime |
Yanolja created South Korea's top platform for booking travel, from hotels to leisure experiences. Beyond its consumer app, the company develops cloud-based software that helps hospitality businesses modernize their services.
| Headquarters | Seoul, Seoul-t'ukpyolsi, South Korea |
| Year Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | Lee Sujin |
| Funding Amount | $2B |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | SoftBank Vision Fund, Booking Holdings, Partners Investment, GIC, SL Investment |
K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel runs a network of premium pet hotels, providing upscale boarding and daycare for dogs. The company is recognized for its cage-free environments and a high standard of care that exceeds typical kennel facilities.
| Headquarters | Fanwood, New Jersey, United States |
| Year Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | Jason Parker, Steven Parker |
| Funding Amount | $16.9M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Undisclosed |
| Top Investors | — |
Engine provides a modern travel platform designed for booking and managing corporate travel. The platform gives businesses a centralized tool to handle employee trips, from booking to expense management.
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Elia Wallen |
| Funding Amount | $221M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Permira, Blackstone Group, Telescope Partners |
ZUZU Hospitality provides independent hotels with a technology platform designed to boost revenue and streamline operations. The all-in-one solution includes revenue management, distribution across booking channels, and property management software.
| Headquarters | Singapore, Central Region, Singapore |
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Dan Lynn, Vikram Malhi |
| Funding Amount | $31.3M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | TNB Aura, Alpha JWC Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, InnoVen Capital, Velocity Ventures |
ELIVAAS offers a curated selection of luxury villas and homes for rent in popular travel destinations. The platform specializes in providing professionally managed properties to ensure a high-end vacation experience for travelers.
| Headquarters | Gurgaon, Haryana, India |
| Year Founded | 2022 |
| Founders | Karan Miglani, Ritwik Khare |
| Funding Amount | $17.4M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | Peak XV Partners, Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India, 3one4 Capital, Kettleborough VC, Surge |
26 Additional Hotel Startups Worth Following
The ten companies we highlighted are leading the charge, but they're far from the only ones making moves. Across the board, founders are attracting serious investment and using new technology like AI to change how we travel.
Some of these companies are just getting started, while others have been around for a while and are finding new ways to grow. Here’s a look at the rest of the companies building what's next in hospitality.
| Startup | Main Industry | Year Founded | Amount Raised | Last Funding Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Inntelo AI | AI | 2024 | £626k | Pre-Seed |
 CitizenM | Travel | 2005 | $1.2B | Debt Financing |
 Nuitée | AI | 2017 | $48M | Series A |
 Bob W | Travel | 2018 | €71M | Series B |
 Casai | Media | 2019 | $53M | Series A |
 easyHotel | Travel | 2010 | £48.5M | Debt Financing |
 MeetingPackage | Travel | 2014 | $8.6M | Series A |
 Hotiday | Retail | 2022 | €6M | Seed |
 Xbed | Travel | 2015 | $38.2M | Venture Round |
 Ayenda Hotels | Travel | 2015 | $20M | Series B |
 Naixuecha | Food | 2014 | $215.8M | Series C |
 ZEN Rooms | Travel | 2015 | $23M | Series B |
 Eklo Hotels | Travel | 2014 | €50M | Venture Round |
 Castellet Hospitality | Travel | 2017 | €61.5M | Private Equity |
 LockTrip | Crypto | 2017 | $4.1M | Corporate Round |
 Red Planet Hotels | Travel | 2010 | $82.3M | Private Equity |
 TECO Mobility | Mobility | 2022 | $690k | Series A |
 Gofer | Real Estate | 2015 | $797.8k | Pre-Seed |
 1Check | Media | 2012 | €1M | Venture Round |
 Radisson Hotel Group | Travel | 1960 | — | — |
 Kumabo | Travel | 2022 | €100k | Seed |
 eSky Group | Travel | 2004 | €11.5M | Private Equity |
 H. nh Hotels & Resorts | Travel | 1999 | €8.5M | Private Equity |
 LetsStay | Travel | 2016 | €50k | Seed |
 Hivr | AI | 2019 | — | Venture Round |
 Caliber.global | Food | 2002 | — | — |
