Wander’s pregnant CEO announces hit travel app same week as delivering baby – Utah Business

Salt Lake City — Wander Maps is proud to unveil its latest innovation – Social Saving. This AI-powered tool simplifies the travel planning process by allowing users to save and organize travel inspirations from social media directly onto an interactive map. By extracting and analyzing the unstructured data from social media content, Wander converts instagram reels (and other platform content soon) into mapped points of interest, making travel planning seamless and intuitive. Watch the two minute launch video. Download the app: iOS, Android

AJ Brau, Founder and CEO of Wander Maps, entered the traveltech space after realizing how fragmented and cumbersome planning a trip could be. AJ’s passion for solving travel-related challenges began early. At the age of 14, she built a successful map app for Lake Powell that generated six figures in revenue while she was still in high school. This early venture showcased her entrepreneurial spirit and deep understanding of travelers’ needs.

Years later, as a mother, AJ encountered the same frustrations she had addressed as a teenager. Determined to create a lasting solution, she revisited her original concept with a broader vision. This inspiration led to the creation of Wander, a comprehensive travel ecosystem designed to simplify and enhance the way people explore the world.

Wander has raised $4M from notable investors including Arieli Capital, Josh James (Omniture, Domo), Alex Bean (Divvy, Tandem Ventures), and Dundee Venture Capital.

Wander aims to create the ultimate travel experience by consolidating all necessary information and booking options into a single, user-friendly app. The platform’s core vision is to offer a seamless, map-centric experience where travelers can find authoritative information about any destination, whether planning a local day trip or a cross-country adventure.

To achieve this, Wander is building the most accurate and authoritative living database of the world. This involves aggregating data from various sources and recognizing different levels of stewardship, from national tourism boards, park supervisors to local business owners. By doing so, Wander ensures that users receive the most reliable and up-to-date information.

One of Wander’s most innovative features is “Social Saving.” Recognizing that modern travelers often find inspiration on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, Wander enables users to save and organize travel ideas directly from these sources. By sharing a link or using the Wander app to capture content, users can automatically map and categorize places of interest, creating a personalized travel itinerary.

This functionality positions Wander to disrupt the travel industry by addressing a significant pain point: the scattered nature of travel planning. Social Saving not only streamlines the process but also leverages user-generated content to keep the platform dynamic and engaging.

Wander’s approach to integrating authoritative data with user-generated content and social media inspiration offers a unique value proposition. By empowering destinations and users alike to contribute and refine information, Wander fosters a collaborative ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders. Destinations can claim their presence on Wander, ensuring accurate representation and visibility, while travelers enjoy a cohesive and enriched travel planning experience.

About Wander Maps

Wander’s mission is to unify the travel planning process, making it more efficient and enjoyable. By leveraging advanced mapping technology, social media integration, and a hierarchical stewardship model, Wander is set to transform how people discover, plan, and experience travel.

Media Contact: 

AJ Brau, CEO, Wander Maps

801-899-5498

[email protected]