8
min read
David Shull
From David Shull, CEO of Tern
At our first American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) conference in 2022, we heard story after story from people who were frustrated by disconnected tools and wasted hours. “Invisible work” is what we came to call this time that advisors lose on tasks that don’t move their business forward.
What we heard led Brian, Katie and me to leave our jobs to build Tern. Our goal was simple but ambitious: create a modern, unified system that puts the needs of travel advisors and agencies first.
Today, we’re taking a big step forward. We have raised $13 million in our Series A funding. The round was led by Viewpoint Ventures with participation from Upfront Ventures and Haystack VC. Tern’s has raised a total of $17 million to date.
This investment validates our mission and ensures we have the resources to be the stable, scalable partner that travel advisors and agencies need. And deserve.
“Before Tern, my agents were juggling multiple platforms for client management, itineraries, and payments. Our clients were being sent in a dozen different directions. Now, everything lives in one streamlined system. Tern has allowed us to work more efficiently, stay organized, and deliver the kind of remarkable, high-touch travel experiences our clients expect.” —Jennifer Davis, Owner of Sweetbay Travel Concierge
Most travel businesses don’t seek outside funding. So why did we decide to raise venture capital?
Because the travel industry doesn’t need another fragmented tool. It needs a unified, vertically integrated system that pulls together every thread, including advisors, agencies, hosts, consortia, and suppliers. If our capital is limited, this vision would take longer to realize.
There’s a tangled web of individual solutions, each trying to solve a narrow problem in isolation. Advisors and agency owners are being forced to stitch together their own tech stack. That’s how invisible work takes hold.
By partnering with Viewpoint Ventures and Upfront Ventures, we’ve found investors who share our belief that the future of travel runs through advisors and agencies. Their backing gives Tern the capital and conviction to move faster and go deeper as we build the complete, connected platform the industry has long needed.
“Our guiding philosophy at Viewpoint is simple: invest in companies, like Tern, that put human experts first. Travel advisors and agencies are the irreplaceable heart of the travel industry. We’re proud to support technology that will make their jobs easier and give them more time to build their business.” - Viewpoint Ventures founder Drew Aldrich.
“Travel advisors have been underserved by technology for too long. While other platforms focus on cutting out the advisor, we’re all-in on building the best platform in the world for them." - Nick Kim, general partner at Upfront Ventures, which also led Tern’s Seed funding round.
100% of this investment will go toward building Tern. To hiring more people and spending more time with users.
Anyone who has listened to our weekly Flight Path podcast knows that the Tern team has a special dynamic. These are some of the smartest and hardest working people I’ve ever met, and some of my all-time favorite humans. Many of them left incredible jobs at some of the biggest (and highest paying) tech firms to come build this platform. They’re passionate about travel, and truly excited to empower travel advisors with the best technology.
Our Series A funding will let us add even more world-class talent to the organization. We have some incredible people coming aboard and we can’t wait to show you what we can do together.
“I am genuinely happy I made the move to switch my entire agency over to Tern. Their commitment to strengthening the product with our direct feedback ensures that this platform will only get better, making it an invaluable tool for any serious agent or agency.” — Mershawn Foley, Owner of Travel with Mershawn
We’ve always listened closely to the travel advisors who use Tern. With this funding, we can double the size of our engineering and design teams. That means we can move faster on the projects that matter most to our users.
Before we add a feature, we always ask: Does this let advisors serve travelers faster or better? Here’s where we’re investing next:
We’re also deepening consortia integrations, starting with Signature Travel Network, and making the entire platform simpler and more intuitive for every user.
“From proposals to itineraries to client communications, Tern has made it easier for me to work smarter and deliver an elevated experience for my travelers. I feel more confident, professional, and in control of my workflow. Honestly, I can't imagine running my travel business without it now!" - Alison Orth, Owner of Orth Travel Collective
We know that great technology isn’t enough. It must come with exceptional support. We believe that every Tern user should have access to premium support, not just those who pay extra or commit to long-term contracts.
That’s why we’re doubling the size of our support team. By later this year, we expect to have seven-day coverage. We know that travel doesn’t stop on weekends, and soon, neither will your access to help.
“Travel advising is a second job while being a teacher and a mom to six. Tern has let me send off quotes in a snap, manage a full-service itinerary, and — my most favorite part of all — utilize automated workflows that make me way less stressed. The continued support and improvements just keep making it better and better. I am SO thankful I came across Tern!!” — Kim Chenoweth
To make onboarding easier, we’ve launched an implementation service for agency owners and are continuing to invest in dedicated support for those using Tern as their back office. We’re also hiring a full-time Training and Education Lead to ensure our learning resources grow alongside the platform.
By lowering barriers to switching to Tern, more agencies can experience the benefits of our all-in-one approach. Over 1,050 agencies have already activated our agency sharing and back-office features.
We’re hosting our first-ever users conference this September aboard Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady, packed with hands-on education. Thanks to this funding round, we’ve reduced advisor pricing by $800 because investing in your growth shouldn’t be cost-prohibitive. You can now get a cruise to Bermuda, 20+ hours of educational content, 10+ hours of networking, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the second ever sailing of Virgin's Brilliant Lady for just $3,899 per cabin. Learn more and sign up here.
“Tern has provided us with the resources and technology to truly work smarter, not harder on both the back end and client-facing sides of our business. It’s truly growing to be the all-in-one system we need to grow as travel professionals. - Jennifer St. Gelais, Founder of Practically Perfect Vacations
When Brian, Katie, and I started Tern, we all believed that this would be our last job. We’re not here for a quick win. We have no plans to sell out. We retain full control over the company and all decision making. We’re here to build something that lasts. Something the entire industry can rely on.
We understand the trust you put in Tern, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. This funding represents our investment in the future of the industry. We want it to also give travel advisors confidence that we’re here for the long haul.
If you’re a travel advisor, you can start using Tern today. Sign up for a free trial here. If you’re an agency owner interested in an integrated system that eliminates the invisible work that is holding your team back, we’d love to meet with you! Connect with our partnerships team here.
This industry deserves innovation. We’re here to build it with you.
David
