What is the name of your organization?
Wandr
What is the name of your solution?
Wandr
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
A platform for solo travelers to connect with locals and each other—sharing cultures, uplifting communities, and empowering Indigenous storytellers.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
United States
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
United States
What type of organization is your solution team?
Not registered as any organization
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Travelers, especially those going solo or on a budget often struggle to find reliable, affordable, and truly personalized travel companions or experiences. At the same time, underprivileged individuals, including women, housewives, rural youth, and Indigenous communities, possess rich cultural knowledge but face barriers to entering the tourism economy due to limited visibility, digital literacy, and lack of formal credentials.
Existing travel platforms prioritize large providers, leaving small-scale guides and authentic cultural exchanges underrepresented. In 2023, there were over 1.5 billion international tourist arrivals (UNWTO), and 45% of Gen Z travelers now seek social, immersive, and cost-sharing travel experiences. Yet in many low- and middle-income regions, informal tourism jobs make up 80% of the sector (ILO, 2020), and most workers lack digital access. For instance, in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, fewer than 30% of small tourism operators have a reliable online presence (WTTC, 2022), and informal workers earn 34% less than formal counterparts (ILO, 2018).
Our platform bridges this gap by connecting solo travelers with compatible companions and underrepresented local guides, including Indigenous hosts who offer immersive, meaningful cultural experiences. In doing so, we foster inclusive economic growth and empower communities to preserve and share their heritage on their own terms.
What is your solution?
Our solution is a mobile-first travel platform that helps solo travelers find compatible companions and discover authentic, cultural experiences.
Travelers begin by creating a profile and entering preferences like destination, budget, and travel style. They’re matched with others planning similar trips and can chat, coordinate itineraries, and share costs for accommodations or activities. In addition to finding companions, travelers can book unique experiences such as food tours, hikes, or cultural workshops, all hosted by verified local individuals. These hosts include women, youth and indigenous people from underrepresented backgrounds who lack access to traditional tourism channels.
For local guides or small tour operators, the app offers a simple onboarding process to create a profile, list services, and manage bookings. They can promote offerings through posts, short videos, and traveler reviews, making them visible even without their own marketing tools. The platform includes AI-powered traveler matching, geolocation features for nearby experiences.
Future updates will offer secure group wallets for cost-sharing, optional trip planning assistance, and digital training for first-time hosts. We aim to support local economic inclusion while offering travelers meaningful, affordable, and culturally rich journeys.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution serves two core groups: solo and budget-conscious travelers, and underrepresented individuals in the Global South—including women, youth, housewives, rural residents, and Indigenous people who hold deep cultural knowledge but are excluded from the formal tourism economy.
In many parts of the Global South, local communities contribute significantly to tourism through informal jobs, yet they often lack access to the digital tools, platforms, and visibility needed to earn sustainable income. Many are limited by language barriers, digital illiteracy, or lack of formal credentials. Meanwhile, mainstream tourism platforms continue to prioritize large providers, reinforcing economic inequality and leaving smaller, community-based voices out. Our platform connects solo travelers with compatible companions and introduces them to immersive experiences hosted by locals from marginalized communities.
For hosts, we offer accessible onboarding, digital training, and tools to promote and manage their offerings empowering them to earn from tourism in ways previously unavailable. By centering the Global South and spotlighting Indigenous and underserved communities, our solution fosters inclusive tourism, builds economic resilience, and creates cross-cultural connections rooted in equity and respect.
