The Wanderlust Group
The Wanderlust Group is a private outdoor travel technology company operating Dockwa, a two-sided marina reservation marketplace serving 920+ marinas and 350,000+ boaters across 30+ countries with subscription and transaction-based revenue streams.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNewport, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What The Wanderlust Group does
The Wanderlust Group is a private outdoor travel technology company founded in 2014 in Newport, Rhode Island, operating a remote-first organization. The company builds two-sided marketplaces and technology platforms that connect adventurers to destinations and help those destinations grow, with its core focus on the marine industry.
The company's primary product is Dockwa, a marina reservation marketplace and operating system that enables boaters to search, book, and pay for marina stays (slips, moorings, and storage racks) while providing marina operators with inventory management, automated invoicing, point-of-sale functionality, dockwalk occupancy surveys, and messaging tools. Dockwa's distinguishing technical feature is its real-time dynamic inventory matching engine that solves marina-specific operational complexity — matching boats of varying sizes, drafts, beams, and arrival/departure times to available dockage. The company also operates Marinas.com, the world's largest directory of marinas and yacht clubs with reviews and operator training resources, acquired in 2017. The platform serves 920+ marinas and yacht clubs and 350,000+ boaters across 30+ countries, with 5M+ nights booked cumulatively.
The business model combines transaction-based revenue (fees on marina reservations processed through the marketplace) with subscription-based revenue (marina operators pay for the operating system and management tools). The company reports that the average marina using Dockwa sees a 20% increase in net operating income and an $800,000 increase in property value, with boaters spending an average of $300 in destination towns. In January 2022, the company raised a $30 million Series C led by Thursday Ventures, bringing cumulative funding to approximately $52.85M, and launched The Wanderfund philanthropic initiative committing $300,000 annually to environmental nonprofits.
The Wanderlust Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Wanderlust Group
- Legal name
- The Wanderlust Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://thewanderlustgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Wanderlust Group is a private outdoor travel technology company operating Dockwa, a two-sided marina reservation marketplace serving 920+ marinas and 350,000+ boaters across 30+ countries with subscription and transaction-based revenue streams.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Wanderlust Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marina Reservation Software
- NAICS
- Marinas (713930), Marinas (71393)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Shore Excursion Operators (Tours & Activities) (THAEAFAC)
Keywords
Where The Wanderlust Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newport
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Wanderlust Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel
Revenue model
- Marina Transaction Processing: Platform fees and transaction fees from processing marina reservations, slip bookings, moorings and storage rack bookings through Dockwa. Average marina sees 20% increase in net operating income using the platform.
- Marina Operator Subscription: Marina operators pay for access to Dockwa's operating system for inventory management, automated invoicing, reporting, point of sale, and dockwalk tools.
- The Wanderfund Philanthropic Initiative: Philanthropic initiative investing $300,000 annually in environmental nonprofits. Not a revenue stream but indicates commitment to environmental causes as part of business strategy.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Boater marketplace access |
| Subscription | Annual | Marina operator platform subscription |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Wanderlust Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Wanderlust Group operates a two-sided marina travel marketplace and operating platform through its flagship product Dockwa, connecting recreational boaters with marina and yacht club operators for slip, mooring, and storage bookings. It also runs Marinas.com, the world's largest directory of marinas, yacht clubs, anchorages, and boating destinations. For marina operators, Dockwa provides inventory management, automated invoicing, contract management, point of sale for onsite fuel and service purchases, occupancy surveying (dockwalk), and 24/7 online reservation acceptance.
Product overview
The Wanderlust Group operates a multi-product platform focused on outdoor travel technology. Its core portfolio consists of Dockwa (a two-sided marina reservation marketplace and operating system for marina operators), Marinas.com (the world's largest marina directory), and the forthcoming Campouts (a campground booking marketplace). The company positions itself as building the digital infrastructure for the marine and outdoor industries, offering transaction processing, inventory management, communication tools, and operational software for marina operators, alongside consumer-facing booking capabilities for boaters and adventurers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Wanderfund: A philanthropic initiative focused on supporting organizations that create greater access to nature and protect the environment, with initial investments in Ocean Conservancy and The Boys & Girls Club of Newport County
Products and services
- Dockwa Two-sided marina reservation marketplace and technology platform for boaters and marina operators; supports online booking of slips, moorings, and storage racks, inventory management, automated invoicing, point of sale for fuel and service purchases, messaging with approaching guests, and dockwalk occupancy surveys.
- Marinas.com The world's largest directory of marinas, yacht clubs, anchorages, service yards, and boating destinations, also serving as a resource and training platform for marina operators.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20% average increase in net operating income for marinas using Dockwa
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Wanderlust Group
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Wanderlust Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Wanderlust Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Ocean ConservancyminorThe Wanderfund initiative will support Ocean Conservancy which works to protect the ocean from its greatest challenges. The Wanderfund is a new philanthropic initiative focused on supporting organizations that create greater access to nature and protect the environment.
- Boys & Girls Club of Newport CountyminorThe Wanderfund will support programs that get youth outside and introduce new generations to a shared love and respect for the outdoors. This investment is a tribute to the Newport community where The Wanderlust Group was founded.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Wanderlust Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Wanderlust Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Wanderlust Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Wanderlust Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
The Wanderlust Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
The Wanderlust Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Wanderlust Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Wanderlust Group
What does The Wanderlust Group do?
The Wanderlust Group operates a two-sided marina travel marketplace and operating platform through its flagship product Dockwa, connecting recreational boaters with marina and yacht club operators for slip, mooring, and storage bookings. It also runs Marinas.com, the world's largest directory of marinas, yacht clubs, anchorages, and boating destinations. For marina operators, Dockwa provides inventory management, automated invoicing, contract management, point of sale for onsite fuel and service purchases, occupancy surveying (dockwalk), and 24/7 online reservation acceptance.
Is The Wanderlust Group a public or private company?
The Wanderlust Group is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was The Wanderlust Group founded?
The Wanderlust Group was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Wanderlust Group based?
The Wanderlust Group is headquartered in Newport, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Wanderlust Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Marina Transaction Processing is the primary driver. The others are marina Operator Subscription and the Wanderfund Philanthropic Initiative.
Does The Wanderlust Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Wanderlust Group.
What industry is The Wanderlust Group in?
The Wanderlust Group's product category is Marina Reservation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAEAFAC, Shore Excursion Operators (Tours & Activities). Its NAICS code is 713930.