57hours

High-Level Overview

57hours is a technology-powered travel marketplace that connects outdoor enthusiasts with vetted local guides for adventure activities like rock climbing, hiking, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, cycling, surfing, and more.[1][2][3][6] It serves active travelers—from beginners to luxury seekers and families—solving the challenge of discovering, booking, and safely experiencing guided adventures in top destinations worldwide, with over 500 adventures across 400+ markets and partnerships with 1,000+ guides.[1][2][6] Founded in 2019 and based in Brooklyn, New York, the company has raised $4.25M+, employs around 45-48 people, and generates about $5.9M in revenue, showing steady growth through expansions like a $2.3M raise to scale globally.[1][2]

Origin Story

57hours was founded in 2019 by tech-savvy outdoor enthusiasts, including CEO Viktor Marohnić—a passionate skier, climber, and serial entrepreneur based in NYC—and Perica, a rock climber and digital product builder in Zagreb, Croatia.[1][2][4] The idea emerged from their own weekend warrior routines: maximizing the 57 hours from Friday 3 PM to Sunday midnight for escapes involving climbing, hiking, skiing, or sailing, which recharged them and sparked a desire to make such experiences accessible to everyone.[3][4][5] Early traction built on easing the "learning curve" for newcomers, selecting guides for NYC-accessible classes leading to bucket-list goals like climbing El Cap or skiing Alaska, while supporting local guides' businesses amid inconsistent client flow.[3][4][5]

Core Differentiators

• Vetted Local Expertise: Partners exclusively with 1,000+ certified, permitted guides embedded in their communities, ensuring safety, local knowledge, and authentic experiences over generic tourism—unlike broad platforms like Airbnb Experiences.[2][4][6]
• Tailored Adventure Variety: Offers 500+ human-sized trips categorized by type (e.g., women-only, family-friendly, luxury, self-guided, education-focused), skill level, and combos like ski & sail, across destinations from Iceland hikes to Alps e-biking.[2][6]
• Seamless Booking & Global Reach: Direct, user-friendly platform for instant discovery and reservations in 400+ markets, with strong customer satisfaction (10K+ happy travelers, 5-star reviews) and tech stack including Facebook, Automattic tools for smooth operations.[2][3][6]
• Guide Empowerment & Impact: Helps guides scale businesses with steady clients and global exposure, fostering wilder trips while prioritizing environmental appreciation and local economies.[3][4]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

57hours rides the post-pandemic outdoor adventure boom, where travelers seek personalized, active escapes amid rising demand for wellness, nature immersion, and experiential travel—fueled by remote work flexibility and a shift from mass tourism.[2][5][6] Timing aligns with market forces like increased interest in skill-building outdoors (e.g., avalanche education, mountaineering) and sustainable localism, positioning it ahead of commoditized apps by emphasizing expert-led, community-rooted trips.[3][4] It influences the ecosystem by democratizing access to "impossible" adventures, building lifelong outdoor habits, and supporting guides' livelihoods, potentially expanding the $100B+ adventure travel sector through tech-enabled matching.[1][5]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

57hours is poised for accelerated growth by deepening international expansion (e.g., Alps, Iceland, Norway) and innovating with AI-driven personalization or VR previews to attract urban millennials craving recharge.[2][6] Trends like climate-resilient adventures, family/group tech integrations, and corporate wellness tie-ins will shape its path, evolving its influence from niche connector to mainstream gateway for global outdoor lifestyles—ultimately fulfilling its mission to transform weekends into life-changing pursuits.[4][5] This builds on its funding momentum, turning the 57-hour escape into a scalable, planet-appreciating movement.[1]