Wander has raised a $1 million extension seed round led by Arieli Capital, with participation from existing investors Rocky Woods Investments, the Joan and Tim Fenton Founders Fund, and Triangle Tweener Fund. Wander's CEO, AJ Brau, highlighted the company's focus on helping users, especially moms, find and organize activities. The funding will support Wander's product strategy, which addresses the pain points in planning and storing travel experiences.

As affluent globetrotters seek out not just destinations, but unique properties catered to their elevated lifestyles, it’s no surprise that the luxury rental vacation market is on the rise. The United States has become the mecca of the global vacation rental market with industry experts anticipating over $100 billion in revenue and 10.7% growth throughout 2024 alone.Despite the short-term rental (STR) market’s upward trajectory, high-end renters have reported disappointment with legacy players. Properties listed with other major action rental services that are marketed as luxury locales online often fail to meet the rigorous standards that sophisticated hotels hold themselves to.Wander is positioned to disrupt the vacation rental market for the better. With its roster of unique high-end properties located across the country’s most sought-after destinations, Wander has set itself apart from the luxury STR competition. Wander is approaching profitability by the end of 2024 despite only just having turned three years old in May.The company’s rising reputation as one of the rental market’s leading choices has been guided by the expertise of founder and CEO John Andrew Entwistle. Entwistle’s own let-down experiences as a luxury vacation rental client drove him to seek a targeted solution for the entire industry