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Safara has raised $11.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Safara.
Safara was founded in 2021 by Cody Rose (Founder) and Doug Schuessler (Founder).
Safara has raised $11.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Safara offers a curated selection of boutique hotels and a cashback rewards program for travelers, allowing users to earn cashback on bookings.
Key people at Safara.
Safara was founded in 2021 by Cody Rose (Founder) and Doug Schuessler (Founder).
Safara has raised $11.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Safara's investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Defy Partners, FPV Fund, Kleiner Perkins, LGF, Sequoia Capital, Spark Capital, Thrive Capital, Michael Moritz, Sam Altman.
Safara has raised $11.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $7.0M Series U in December 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2024 | $7M Series U | — | Andreessen Horowitz, Defy Partners, FPV Fund, Kleiner Perkins, LGF, Sequoia Capital, Spark Capital, Thrive Capital, Michael Moritz, SAM Altman | Announced |
| Aug 1, 2022 | $4M Seed | — | Andreessen Horowitz, Defy Partners, FPV Fund, Kleiner Perkins, LGF, Sequoia Capital, Spark Capital, Thrive Capital, Michael Moritz, SAM Altman | Announced |
Safara is a hotel booking app that delivers curated recommendations, cashback rewards, and climate-conscious travel experiences. The platform serves frequent travelers and hotel lovers by offering a seamless, mobile-first booking experience with a focus on independent and boutique hotels. Safara solves the pain points of fragmented travel apps and lack of loyalty incentives by combining trusted curation, instant cashback on every booking, and a commitment to sustainability through carbon credit contributions. The company has rapidly gained traction, with over 1 million bookable properties globally and partnerships with leading boutique hotel groups. Its user base is highly engaged, with new users spending an average of $1,000 per booking and 65% staying in hotels more than four times a year.
Founded in 2021 by Doug Schuessler and Cody Rose—former executives at Resy, which was acquired by American Express—Safara emerged from the founders’ experience building a successful reservation platform in the hospitality sector. Their vision was to create a travel app that not only simplifies booking but also rewards users and supports sustainable travel. The idea was born from observing the limitations of existing travel platforms: lack of personalization, opaque loyalty programs, and minimal environmental accountability. Early traction came from leveraging their network in the hospitality industry and securing partnerships with boutique hotel groups. The company quickly raised $1 million in seed funding and expanded its marketplace to include a global selection of hotels, while also launching a SaaS solution for independent hotels.
Safara is riding the wave of digital transformation in travel, where consumers demand personalization, convenience, and sustainability. The timing is critical as travelers increasingly seek authentic experiences and value transparency in loyalty programs. The rise of independent hotels and the decline of traditional OTA dominance create a favorable market for platforms like Safara that empower both guests and hoteliers. By blending data-driven curation, direct booking technology, and a robust rewards ecosystem, Safara is influencing how hotels and travelers interact, setting a new standard for digital hospitality. Its integration with existing hotel systems and focus on data privacy also positions it as a trusted partner in the evolving travel tech stack.
Safara is poised to become a leading player in the next generation of travel platforms, bridging the gap between curated discovery, guest loyalty, and sustainable tourism. As the travel industry continues to digitize and consumers prioritize personalized, eco-friendly experiences, Safara’s model is well-positioned for growth. The company is likely to expand its global footprint, deepen hotel partnerships, and potentially introduce new features like AI-driven recommendations or expanded sustainability initiatives. Its influence will extend beyond bookings, shaping how hotels leverage technology to build direct relationships with guests. Safara’s journey reflects a broader shift in travel tech: from transactional platforms to holistic, value-driven ecosystems that benefit both travelers and the planet.
