Hopper is the travel app that tells you when to buy and when to wait. Frederic Lalonde spent 7 years building price prediction algorithms before the app even launched in 2015. It uses AI to forecast flight and hotel prices with 95% accuracy and tells users to buy now or wait for a better deal. $724 million raised and the app has been downloaded 100+ million times. It’s like having a travel agent who can see the future.
Founded
2007
HQ
Montreal, Canada
Total Raised
$724 million
Founder
Frederic Lalonde
Status
Private
Website
www.hopper.comTHE ORIGIN STORY
Frederic Lalonde founded Hopper in Montreal in 2007 as a data company that analyzed travel prices. For seven years, they quietly collected billions of price points and built prediction models before launching a consumer app in 2015.
The app’s killer feature: a "Buy" or "Wait" recommendation powered by AI that predicts whether flight and hotel prices will go up or down. Users set price alerts and Hopper notifies them at the optimal moment to purchase.
The predictions are 95% accurate.
WHAT THEY ACTUALLY DO
Hopper earns commission on flight and hotel bookings made through the app. Additionally, they sell "fintech" products: Price Freeze (lock in a price for a fee), Cancel for Any Reason (flexible cancellation insurance), and disruption protection.
These ancillary products are high-margin and increasingly drive revenue.
Hopper also licenses its technology to other travel companies through Hopper Cloud (B2B2C model).
THE PRODUCTS
Flight and hotel price prediction (95% accuracy). Price Freeze — lock in a fare for up to 14 days.
Cancel for Any Reason — flexible cancellation protection. Price Drop Protection — refund if prices drop after booking.
Hopper Cloud — B2B licensing of prediction technology to other travel companies.
HOW THEY GREW
Mobile-first and mobile-only. Unlike Expedia and Booking.com, Hopper started as an app and never built a website.
This let them optimize for mobile UX. Push notification price alerts drove repeat engagement.
The "Buy or Wait" feature was inherently shareable — users told friends about the app.
THE HARD PART
Competing with Booking, Expedia, and Google Flights, which have massive inventory and brand recognition. Hopper’s mobile-only approach limits some business travelers.
The fintech products (insurance-like offerings) face regulatory scrutiny in some markets.
MONEY TRAIL
Series A
2014 · Led by OMERS Ventures
$12M raised
Series C
2018 · Led by OMERS Ventures
$100M raised
Series E
2021 · Led by Goldman Sachs
$175M raised
Series G
2022 · Led by Capital One
$96M raised
WHO BACKED THEM
Goldman Sachs, Capital One, and WestCap led various rounds. Earlier investors include Credo Ventures, OMERS Ventures, and BPI France.
Total funding of $724 million.
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