Why Travel Startup Founders Step Down but Stay in Key Roles
Many travel startup founders eventually face a tough decision: continue leading their company or step into a new role. As startups scale, operational complexity increases, and some founders realize their strengths lie in product innovation rather than executive leadership.
Recent leadership shifts in travel tech highlight this trend. Spotnana founder Sarosh Waghmar transitioned to chief product officer, handing the CEO role to Steve Singh. WeTravel’s Johannes Koeppel made a similar move, as did Visit Group’s James Dixon.
Investor insights suggest this shift is common. Cara Whitehill of Thayer Investment Partners explains that building a startup from zero to one requires different skills than scaling from one to 100. Some founders thrive in the early stages but feel less engaged as the company matures.
This was the case at RoomPriceGenie, co-founded in 2017 by Ari Andricopoulos. After securing a $75 million investment from Five Elms Capital, Andricopoulos stepped down as CEO to become chief strategy officer, bringing in Charles Scarantino, an experienced scale-up executive.
Five Elms Capital runs a “CEO-in-waiting” program, preparing leaders to step into portfolio companies when needed. About half of its backed companies are still led by founders, while others see founders transition into strategic roles.
As travel startups evolve, leadership changes reflect a broader industry shift—ensuring companies have the right expertise to scale while allowing founders to focus on their passions and strengths.
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