The educational travel industry in Europe is thriving, fostering learning through immersive experiences that blend travel and education. Companies offer a breadth of unique programs including language immersion, cultural exchanges, and study abroad opportunities. By connecting students with host families or local professionals, educational trips transform classrooms into global classrooms. Innovation drives the sector, focusing on sustainability and tailor-made experiences that cater to specific learning objectives. Post-pandemic, interest in educational travel surges, as families and institutions seek experiences that enrich knowledge while building global awareness. This shift highlights education as a vital aspect of tourism growth within the continent.


Highlighted by a mix of private equity and venture capital, the list features 17 investors from cities like London, Paris, and Stockholm. Founded between 1981 to 2015, these firms vary in size, with many managing a handful of employees to larger teams. In 2024, collectively, they engaged in nearly 500 transactions, showing active interest in the travel sector, particularly in educational ventures. This broad array of investments includes established players like EQT Group and innovative newcomers such as Kima Ventures, emphasizing the robust financing capabilities available in Europe's educational travel sphere.


Top 17 Educational Travel Investors in Europe


1. Bpifrance French Tech Accélération


Bpifrance French Tech Accélération is a venture capital investor based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2015. As a public entity and financial institution, Bpifrance supports entrepreneurs and businesses in France and internationally through various services, including direct funding, export credit insurance, and private equity investments. The institution aims to foster entrepreneurship and innovation by providing coaching and partnerships to help businesses navigate growth and international expansion. Notably, Bpifrance has participated in significant transactions within the travel sector, such as investing in Evaneos, a Parisian travel tech startup that raised €20 million in equity financing in December 2022, and previously raised $21 million in a Series C round in May 2016. Additionally, Bpifrance was involved in the funding of Voyageurs du Monde, which raised $155 million in Post-IPO Debt in March 2021. These transactions highlight Bpifrance's active role in supporting companies that contribute to the travel industry, including those that may focus on educational travel.


2. Crowdcube

  • Website: crowdcube.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: crowdcube-limited

Crowdcube is a London-based crowdfunding platform founded in 2010 that enables businesses to raise capital through equity investments. It connects startups and SMEs with potential investors, facilitating the funding process. The platform promotes diversity and inclusion within its workforce while providing investment management services to its clients. Notably, Crowdcube has been involved in several transactions relevant to the educational travel sector, including Learnlife, which raised $1,417,797 in February 2022 and focuses on innovative educational experiences, and Urbs Travel, which raised $214,343 in December 2022, offering travel experiences with an educational component. Other relevant transactions include SuperAger World and Eden Project, which, while not strictly educational travel, contribute to the broader educational and experiential learning landscape.


3. Kima Ventures

  • Website: kimaventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 50
  • LinkedIn: kima-ventures

Kima Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, backing two startups per week with financial support and mentorship to help them navigate initial challenges. Among their notable transactions, Kima Ventures participated in the funding of Explora Project, a French traveltech company that raised €1.7 million to expand its positive-impact adventure tourism initiatives. This investment highlights Kima's interest in the travel sector, particularly in ventures that may have educational components. Additionally, Kima Ventures has been involved in other travel-related investments, such as Impala, which aims to enhance competition and consumer choice in the travel sector, further demonstrating their engagement in the travel industry.


4. Enterprise Ireland


Enterprise Ireland is a public entity that serves as the Irish government's enterprise development agency, founded in 1998. It supports Irish businesses at all stages of their growth journey by providing funding, advisory services, and market access assistance. The agency focuses on helping companies scale and compete internationally across various industries, including technology and manufacturing. Notably, Enterprise Ireland has been involved in several transactions relevant to the educational sector, such as the pre-seed funding of Educatly, an Egyptian edtech startup, which raised $1 million to develop its product and expand its operations. Additionally, they have supported The Freebird Club, which raised $540,883 in a pre-seed round, indicating their interest in innovative educational solutions. These investments highlight Enterprise Ireland's role in fostering educational initiatives, which can encompass educational travel.


5. HOWZAT Partners

  • Website: howzatpartners.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2006
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: howzat-media

HOWZAT Partners is a venture capital investment fund based in Luxembourg, founded in 2006. The firm specializes in investing in digital businesses and provides funding and strategic advisory services to early-stage companies. Their clientele primarily consists of entrepreneurs and startups seeking investment and guidance. Notably, HOWZAT Partners has been involved in several transactions within the travel sector, including investments in itravel, which raised significant funds in multiple rounds (Series A and B) from 2016 to 2018, and Travelcircus, which raised funds in a Seed Round in 2016. These investments highlight their engagement in the travel industry, which may intersect with educational travel initiatives.


6. EQT Group

  • Website: eqtgroup.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 30
  • LinkedIn: eqt-partners

EQT Group is a prominent investment firm founded in 1994, specializing in private equity, infrastructure, real estate, growth equity, and venture capital. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, EQT serves institutional investors by managing diverse investment portfolios across multiple sectors and geographies. Notably, EQT has made significant investments in the educational sector, including Nord Anglia Education, which focuses on premium international schools, and Dukes Education Group, which operates a network of independent schools. These transactions highlight EQT's engagement in the educational landscape, which is closely related to educational travel, as these institutions often attract international students and facilitate educational travel experiences. Additionally, EQT's involvement in ILA Vietnam, an educational institution, further emphasizes their commitment to the education sector.


7. Portugal Ventures


Portugal Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Porto, Portugal, founded in 2012. The firm specializes in investing in startups with global ambitions, primarily located in Portugal, and provides both capital and strategic support to help these startups grow and scale their operations. Portugal Ventures focuses on innovative projects across various sectors, including technology and health. Notably, they have made several investments in travel-related companies, such as Algrave Sun Boat Trips, which raised funds in December 2020, indicating an interest in the travel sector. Other investments, like those in TRY Portugal and Azores Touch, also suggest a broader engagement with travel and tourism, which could encompass educational travel experiences. This diverse portfolio highlights Portugal Ventures' role in fostering entrepreneurship and economic development in various industries, including those that may intersect with educational travel.


8. HV Capital

  • Website: hvcapital.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
  • Founded year: 2000
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 28
  • LinkedIn: hvventures

HV Capital is a venture capital firm based in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, founded in 2000. The firm specializes in investing in digital companies and supporting entrepreneurs from seed stage to exit, managing over €2.8 billion in assets. HV Capital has been actively involved in the travel sector, particularly through its investments in Tourlane, a Berlin-based travel startup. Tourlane has raised significant funding over the years, including a Series D round of approximately $26.3 million in November 2024, and previous rounds totaling over $100 million. These investments highlight HV Capital's strategic focus on companies that enhance travel experiences, which can include educational travel opportunities. By providing capital and strategic guidance, HV Capital helps startups like Tourlane navigate growth challenges and achieve market success, further solidifying its role in the travel industry.


9. Permira

  • Website: permira.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1985
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 8
  • LinkedIn: permira

Permira is a London-based private equity investment firm founded in 1985, specializing in private equity and credit solutions. The firm partners with management teams and entrepreneurs to foster growth and create long-term value across various sectors, including technology, consumer, healthcare, and services. Notably, Permira acquired EF Education First on July 28, 2020, a significant player in the educational travel industry, which underscores their engagement in this sector. Additionally, they have been involved in transactions with companies like Love Holidays and FlixBus, which, while not strictly educational travel, indicate a broader interest in travel-related investments. This diverse portfolio reflects Permira's strategy to transform businesses into market leaders, including those in the educational travel space.


10. Bgf

  • Website: bgf.co.uk
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 53
  • LinkedIn: bgfinvestments

BGF Investment Management Limited is a venture capital firm based in London, UK, founded in 2011. The firm focuses on providing growth funding and value creation support to small and mid-sized businesses across various sectors in the UK and Ireland. BGF addresses the funding gap in the market through minority investments and extensive support services. Notably, BGF has made significant investments in the travel sector, including a multimillion-pound investment in Vosaio Travel Group, a global specialist in group travel, aimed at expanding its market presence. Additionally, BGF invested £3.7 million in Travcorp Holdings, the parent company of travel websites Destination2.co.uk and Holidaygems.co.uk, to enhance technology and marketing efforts in the travel industry. Furthermore, BGF's investment in Kids Planet, a nursery care and education business, highlights their commitment to the education sector. These transactions illustrate BGF's active role in both educational and travel-related investments.


11. LocalGlobe

  • Website: localglobe.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 15
  • LinkedIn: localglobe

LocalGlobe is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2019. The firm partners with exceptional founders and companies at various stages of growth, from pre-seed to scale-up and public markets. LocalGlobe provides venture capital funding and investment management services, focusing on supporting startups in navigating their growth challenges. Notably, LocalGlobe has been involved in several transactions within the travel sector, including investments in TravelPerk, which raised $160 million in a Series D funding round, and Trainline Europe, which raised $1,837,222 in a Seed Round. These investments indicate a presence in the travel industry, which can overlap with educational travel contexts, although the firm primarily targets technology companies and startups.


12. Active Partners

  • Website: active.partners
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2004
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 10
  • LinkedIn: activepartners

Active Partners is a London-based venture capital firm founded in 2004, specializing in partnering with visionary founders to build iconic consumer brands. They focus on mission-driven companies that inspire and delight consumers, primarily in the consumer goods sector. Notably, Active Partners has made significant investments in the travel industry, including a $5 million Series B investment in Context Travel, a company dedicated to providing educational travel experiences. They also led an £8.3 million Series B funding round for TravelLocal, a global travel marketplace, which supports international growth and brand marketing. Their recent investment in Lovetovisit, which raised over $4 million, further demonstrates their active engagement in the travel sector, potentially encompassing educational travel experiences.


13. CDP Venture Capital SGR


CDP Venture Capital SGR is a venture capital firm based in Rome, Italy, founded in 2015. The firm focuses on supporting startups and innovative companies across various sectors in Italy, providing financial backing and strategic resources for growth. Among its notable transactions, CDP Venture Capital has invested in 181travel, a travel experience startup that raised €2.5M, and WeSchool, a school management platform that secured €6.4M in funding. These investments highlight the firm's engagement in the educational travel space, as they support companies that enhance learning experiences through travel and education.


14. Ldc

  • Website: ldc.co.uk
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1981
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 15
  • LinkedIn: ldc

Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) is a private equity firm based in London, England, that specializes in providing growth capital and strategic support to mid-market businesses across various sectors. Founded in 1981, LDC is part of Lloyds Banking Group and focuses on helping management teams achieve their growth ambitions through investment and advisory services. LDC has been involved in several notable transactions in the travel sector, including the acquisition of Neilson Holidays in 2018, which offers active holidays that could include educational components. They also invested in Blue Bay Travel, a UK-based online travel agent that secured £6.5m in equity funding to expand its offerings, potentially including educational travel products. Additionally, LDC's acquisition of Forest Holidays indicates their commitment to the travel industry, which may intersect with educational travel opportunities.


15. Eurazeo

  • Website: eurazeo.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1969
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 40
  • LinkedIn: eurazeo

Eurazeo is a prominent investment management firm based in Paris, specializing in private equity, private debt, and real assets. Founded in 1969, the firm has established a strong presence in the investment management landscape across Europe. Eurazeo focuses on tailored investment strategies aimed at fostering growth and expansion in various sectors, including technology and healthcare. Notably, Eurazeo has made significant strides in the educational travel sector through its investments in WorldStrides, an experiential education provider, where they acquired a majority stake for $469 million in 2017 to support its global expansion. In 2016, they also acquired Les Roches International School of Hotel Management and Glion Institute of Higher Education, both of which are key players in hospitality education. These strategic investments underscore Eurazeo's commitment to enhancing educational experiences and opportunities in the travel industry.


16. Partech

  • Website: partechpartners.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 1982
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 24
  • LinkedIn: partech

Partech Partners is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 1982. The firm specializes in providing funding and support to startups across various sectors, particularly in technology. Partech operates globally and has a diverse portfolio of companies. Among their notable transactions in the travel sector, they have invested in Evaneos, a Parisian travel tech startup that raised €20 million and €70 million in funding rounds, focusing on expanding travel services. They also invested in PerfectStay, a B2B tour operator that raised €15 million to enhance its international presence. These investments highlight Partech's commitment to supporting innovative travel solutions, which can include educational travel experiences.


17. Seedcamp

  • Website: seedcamp.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2007
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 40
  • LinkedIn: seedcamp_2

Seedcamp is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2007. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across Europe, providing financial backing and support to founders in areas such as product-market fit and sales. Seedcamp has a strong focus on technology-driven companies looking to innovate and grow. Among their notable investments are Much Better Adventures, which raised $556,880 in a seed round in 2016, and Davinci Travel System, which also raised an undisclosed amount in a seed round in 2018. These investments highlight Seedcamp's engagement in the travel sector, particularly in companies that may offer educational travel experiences. Additionally, they have invested in BUKIT and Yonder, further showcasing their diverse portfolio in the travel and technology industries.



Educational Travel Insights: Key Investors in Europe


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
Bpifrance French Tech AccélérationParis, Île-De-France, France1-102015198
CrowdcubeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-20020103
Kima VenturesParis, Île-De-France, France1-10201050
Enterprise IrelandDublin, Dublin, Ireland501-1000199848
HOWZAT PartnersLuxembourg1-1020062
EQT GroupStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1001-5000199430
Portugal VenturesPorto, Porto, Portugal11-5020126
HV CapitalFlensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany11-50200028
PermiraLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)501-100019858
BgfLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200201153
LocalGlobeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50201915
Active PartnersLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50200410
CDP Venture Capital SGRRome, Lazio, Italy51-200201541
LdcLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200198115
EurazeoParis, Île-De-France, France201-500196940
PartechParis, Île-De-France, France51-200198224
SeedcampLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50200740


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