Artificial intelligence-powered trip planner Mindtrip, PhocusWire's Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2025, has acquired Thatch, which offers guides from travel content creators and local experts.
Mindtrip CEO Andy Moss confirmed his company would be absorbing Thatch but terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
"The Thatch community is now part of Mindtrip’s creator program, with several team members joining us to expand our local expertise alongside our AI-powered travel platform," Moss said in an emailed statement. "At Mindtrip, we believe lived human experiences bring a richness to travel that AI alone can’t replicate. Whether it’s a local tour guide, a local tastemaker, a frequent traveler, or a destination marketer, their insights add depth and authenticity. AI enhances these perspectives—making them more accessible, discoverable, and actionable.”
Abby West, co-founder and product lead of Thatch, said in a post on the Thatch website that Thatch is “joining forces” with Mindtrip.
“After four years of building a community-driven travel platform, we're taking the next step to bring AI-powered travel planning to the next level—together,” she said.
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As AI has become more integral to how people travel, the company spent several months evaluating how to navigate this “new reality.” Thatch content has migrated to Mindtrip, according to the post.
“Building Thatch with you has been an honor,” West and her team said. “We can’t wait for this next chapter together.”
West Askew, co-founder and CEO, weighed in, too.
"Andy and his team have built an incredible product and we're excited to help accelerate their growth with our global community of local experts and travel creators," Askew said. "Striking the right balance of human touch and AI efficiency at the right moments in the traveler journey has the potential to transform the entire experience in delightful ways."
Both companies have attracted investors to their ventures. Thatch received $3 million in seed funding in 2021. And Mindtrip has raised funds across a number of rounds.
In 2023, Mindtrip raised $7 million ahead of its official launch last May. In September, it received $12 million in funding and launched a group chat feature and in October, Mindtrip launched a receipt function and received more funding. Not long after in November, Mindtrip added a B2B solution. And last week, Mindtrip announced it was integrating with Visit California.