Ed-Ventures
Ed-Ventures is a family-owned tour operator founded in 1974 that designs customized domestic and international group tours for schools, churches, music ensembles, and adult organizations, bundling airfare, hotels, meals, guides, and logistics into per-person packages.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersRochester, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ed-Ventures does
Ed-Ventures, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned tour operator founded in 1974 and headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota. The company designs and operates customized domestic and international group tours for adult, student, and faith-based travelers, with packages that bundle airfare, hotels, meals, guides, transportation, and on-the-ground logistics into a single per-person price (typically $1,499 to $7,749 depending on destination and inclusions). It sells primarily through a B2B sales-led motion to churches, K-12 and higher-education institutions, music/performance ensembles, alumni associations, and other organizations of 15 or more travelers, supplemented by channel partnerships with other tour operators (Reformation Tours, Star Destinations, Anderson Vacations, U B TRAVELIN, Academic Travel Abroad) and travel agents.
The company's core product is fully customized group tour packages covering international destinations across ~38 countries and domestic US itineraries, with specialization in faith-based travel (Holy Land pilgrimages, Journeys of Paul, mission trips). Its supporting technology is GroupCollect, an online registration and payment platform used for paperless trip registration, account management, and donation collection; the firm also resells TripMate travel insurance as an add-on service. Operations run with approximately 13 staff members, including second-generation family leadership (Paul Larsen as President and Sales Manager since 2002, Shannon Larsen as Co-Owner and President of Operations), tour coordinators, finance, and marketing personnel.
Commercially, Ed-Ventures generates revenue through one-time group tour bookings priced per person on double occupancy, with early-bird discounts occasionally available. Marketing combines content (blog, email newsletter via Mailchimp), organic social (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Yelp), industry-association participation (National Tour Association, Faith Travel Association, Travel Alliance Partners), and partner referrals. The company is a co-founder of the Faith Travel Association and Paul Larsen is a past Chair of the National Tour Association, signaling industry standing. No external funding, acquisitions, or public-market activity has been disclosed.
Ed-Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ed-Ventures
- Legal name
- Ed-Ventures, Inc.
- Website
- https://ed-ventures.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ed-Ventures is a family-owned tour operator founded in 1974 that designs customized domestic and international group tours for schools, churches, music ensembles, and adult organizations, bundling airfare, hotels, meals, guides, and logistics into per-person packages.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ed-Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Group Tour Operator Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (56152), Travel Agencies (561510)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Custom Itinerary Planning with Booking & Fulfillment (Full-Service) (THAKAOAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bespoke Multi-Day Itinerary Planning & Custom Tour Design (THAJALAB), Group & Small-Group Custom Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAF), School Group & Curriculum-Led Trips (THAKAGAB), Family & Multi-Generational Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAD)
Keywords
Where Ed-Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rochester
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ed-Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Group Tour Packages: Ed-Ventures generates revenue by selling comprehensive group tour packages that include airfare, hotels, meals, guides, transportation, and logistics coordination. Tours are customized for each group and priced per person based on double occupancy. The company serves churches, schools, organizations, and adult groups seeking educational, faith-based, music, and general group travel experiences.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Christmas in the Ozarks (EDBR26) - 4-day motorcoach tour |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | International tours with airfare included |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | International tours - land only |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Ed-Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ed-Ventures designs and operates fully customized group tour packages for schools, churches, music groups, alumni associations, and adult organizations. Each tour is tailored to the group's specific goals and bundles airfare, hotels, meals, ground transportation, guides, and sightseeing into a single per-person package for groups of 15 or more, covering both international destinations and domestic U.S. itineraries. The company combines dedicated tour planners with its GroupCollect online registration platform to deliver end-to-end group travel planning.
Product overview
Ed-Ventures is a family-owned tour operator (since 1974) offering customized group tours for educational, faith-based, music, and general adult travelers. The company's core product is fully customized group tour packages that include airfare, hotels, meals, guides, and all logistics. Their service portfolio includes International Tours (featuring destinations like Hungary/Slovakia, Greece, Ireland, Germany, Israel, Egypt), Domestic Tours (US destinations including Civil Rights sites, Florida, Great Lakes), and specialized Faith-Based Travel for Holy Land pilgrimages and religious destinations. Supporting products include GroupCollect (proprietary online registration and payment platform), TripMate Travel Insurance (partner insurance product), and Sample Tours (pre-designed itinerary references). The company serves groups typically of 15+ travelers and operates with nearly 200 years of combined staff experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Customized Group Tours Ed-Ventures's primary service offering: fully customized group tours including educational, faith-based, music, and general adult group travel experiences. The company designs tailored itineraries around each group's unique goals, handling all logistics including airfare, hotels, meals, guides, and transportation.
- International Tours Customized group tours to international destinations including Europe, Asia, Central America, Middle East, and other global locations. Featured tours include destinations such as Hungary/Slovakia, Greece, Ireland, Scotland, Germany/Austria/Switzerland, Israel, Egypt, and more.
- Domestic Tours Group tours within the United States, including regional destinations like the Ozarks, Florida amusement parks, Civil Rights historical sites, Amish communities, Great Lakes lighthouses, and other American destinations.
- Faith-Based Travel Specialized religious travel experiences including Holy Land pilgrimages to Israel, journeys following the footsteps of Jesus, Paul, and other biblical figures, mission trips, and tours to faith significant destinations worldwide for groups of 15 or more.
- GroupCollect Online Registration Platform Ed-Ventures's proprietary online registration and payment collection platform that allows group travelers to register for trips, make payments, manage donations, and track their registration status. Provides paperless registration options for tour groups.
- TripMate Travel Insurance Partner travel insurance offering through TripMate providing Standard and Enhanced Protection plans. Coverage options include trip cancellation, baggage protection, trip interruption, and Cancel for Any Reason benefits for tour travelers.
- Christmas in the Ozarks (EDBR26) A featured 4-day domestic motorcoach tour to Missouri and Iowa scheduled for December 3-7, 2026, priced at $1,499 per person, double occupancy. Includes festive holiday experiences, sparkling lights, and Christmas entertainment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Serving travelers from most of the 50 states
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ed-Ventures
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Ed-Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Ed-Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Travel Alliance PartnerscoreEd-Ventures is a member of Travel Alliance Partners, an organization of tour operators that likely provides networking, industry resources, and collaborative opportunities within the travel industry.
- National Tour AssociationcoreEd-Ventures maintains membership in the National Tour Association, a major trade organization for the tour industry. Paul Larsen served as past Chair of this association, indicating significant industry standing and involvement.
- Faith Travel AssociationcoreEd-Ventures co-founded the Faith Travel Association, reflecting their deep involvement and leadership in the faith-based travel segment. This partnership provides industry recognition and networking within the religious travel market.
- GroupCollectcoreEd-Ventures uses GroupCollect as their online registration platform for trip registration, passenger management, and payment processing. This software enables travelers to register, manage accounts, make payments, and handle donations for trips.
- TripMateminorTripMate is a travel insurance provider that Ed-Ventures recently began working with to offer protection plans for clients traveling overseas, including Standard and Enhanced Travel Protection options.
- Anderson VacationscoreProfessional working relationship with Anderson Vacations (Calgary, Canada) involving mutual referrals and collaboration on tour operations. Ed-Ventures provides specialist destination knowledge while Anderson Vacations brings Canadian market access.
- Reformation TourscoreLong-standing partnership with Reformation Tours (Belleville, IL) spanning many years with high rate of repeat clients. Ed-Ventures provides tour operations and logistics while Reformation Tours handles marketing and client relationships.
- Star DestinationscoreOver 20-year partnership with Star Destinations (Caroll, IA) characterized by wonderful collaboration and mutual referrals in the tour operator industry.
- U B TRAVELINminorPartnership with U B TRAVELIN (Kansas City) for choir and group travel services, involving coordination of air components, ground transportation, guides, hotels, and sightseeing.
- Academic Travel AbroadcorePartnership with Clarkson College's Academic Travel Abroad program, providing customized tours for healthcare students and professionals with unique learning objectives and cultural enrichment needs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ed-Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Tauck: Premium guided-tour operator with a broad catalog of group itineraries worldwide. Competes for adult group travel demand but operates at a higher price point and larger scale than Ed-Ventures.
- Adventures by Disney: Branded guided group tours focused on family and multi-generational travelers. Overlaps with Ed-Ventures on family and multi-generational custom itineraries, though Disney operates at significantly higher scale and brand recognition.
- Collette: Established guided-tour operator with a broad portfolio of domestic and international group tours. Competes with Ed-Ventures on adult and faith-adjacent group travel, though Collette focuses on larger fixed-departure tours rather than fully custom itineraries.
Direct peers
- EF Educational Tours: EF's educational tours division organizes group travel for K-12 schools and educators worldwide. Directly competes with Ed-Ventures in curriculum-aligned student group travel and offers a comparable full-service model.
- Anderson Vacations: Canada-based tour operator with whom Ed-Ventures has a long-standing partnership for cross-border custom group tours. Comparable in offering custom international and domestic itineraries for organized groups.
- WorldStrides: Major operator of student and performance group travel including music, band, and choir tours. Overlaps directly with Ed-Ventures' school and music-performance segments and serves a similar organizer buyer.
- Academic Travel Abroad: Specialist in academic and lifelong-learning group travel, with whom Ed-Ventures already partners. Offers custom educational tours for colleges and adult learners — directly comparable offerings to Ed-Ventures' higher-education and alumni business.
- Premier World Discovery: Custom group tour operator serving schools, churches, and organizations. Directly comparable to Ed-Ventures in B2B group custom itineraries including student, faith, and music tours.
- Reformation Tours: Faith-based tour operator specializing in Christian heritage trips and pilgrimages. Long-standing Ed-Ventures partner; competes and collaborates in the same faith-based group travel niche.
Emerging players
- Music Travel Consultants: Specialist in music performance group tours for bands, choirs, and orchestras. Directly comparable to Ed-Ventures' music-performance segment, though narrower in scope.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ed-Ventures social profiles
Digital presenceEd-Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ed-Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Ed-Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ed-Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ed-Ventures
What does Ed-Ventures do?
Ed-Ventures designs and operates fully customized group tour packages for schools, churches, music groups, alumni associations, and adult organizations. Each tour is tailored to the group's specific goals and bundles airfare, hotels, meals, ground transportation, guides, and sightseeing into a single per-person package for groups of 15 or more, covering both international destinations and domestic U.S. itineraries. The company combines dedicated tour planners with its GroupCollect online registration platform to deliver end-to-end group travel planning.
Is Ed-Ventures a public or private company?
Ed-Ventures is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Ed-Ventures founded?
Ed-Ventures was founded in 1974. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ed-Ventures based?
Ed-Ventures is headquartered in Rochester, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ed-Ventures make money?
One revenue line is on record: group Tour Packages.
Who are Ed-Ventures's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Tauck, Adventures by Disney and Collette. Direct peers are EF Educational Tours, Anderson Vacations, WorldStrides, Academic Travel Abroad, Premier World Discovery and Reformation Tours. Music Travel Consultants is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ed-Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ed-Ventures.
What industry is Ed-Ventures in?
Ed-Ventures's product category is Group Tour Operator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAOAO, Custom Itinerary Planning with Booking & Fulfillment (Full-Service), with a secondary code of THAJALAB, Bespoke Multi-Day Itinerary Planning & Custom Tour Design. Its NAICS code is 56152 and its SIC code is 7990.