Vanessa Karel
Founder of Greether
Vanessa Karel is a second-time founder, serial entrepreneur, writer, public speaker, and visionary. She has dedicated her career to solving one of the biggest challenges women face worldwide: safe navigation and meaningful connections through her travel company, Greether.
In 2025, Vanessa was named one of the Most Influential Women in Travel, as well as one of the 100 Latina Leaders in both 2024 and 2025 by Latino Leaders Magazine. She has also been recognized as one of the 100 Latinx Founders to Watch, won first place in CNET’s Promise of Tourism Awards, and, in 202,3 was voted Most Impactful Entrepreneur Creating Social Impact in Mexico by ASEM.
Through Greether, Vanessa advances two key UN Sustainable Development Goals: reducing safety risks for women and increasing income opportunities for them. The platform has organically grown to serve travelers in over 100 countries and 1,000+ cities worldwide. “We connect female travelers with verified local women Greeters they can book wherever they go,” she explains. “It’s like having a trusted local bestie wherever you land.”
Greether has earned global recognition, including being named one of the Top 3 Most Innovative Female Empowerment Travel Companies in the world by the UNWTO Awake Tourism Challenge, a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup for 2024, and Travel Startup of the Year at WTM London 2024. The company and its mission have been featured in leading outlets such as Inc. Magazine, Forbes, Fast Company, USA Today, CBS News, and even on Saturday Night Live.
Backed by Andreessen Horowitz (al6z) through the prestigious TxO Spring 2024 cohort and supported by Expedia Group’s Open World Accelerator, Greether has forged strategic partnerships to expand its impact. The company has also attracted investments from Mercury Bank, Alephl, Untours Foundation, and Expedia Group.
As a public speaker, Vanessa advocates for women’s rights, assault prevention, and sustainable tourism. She has spoken on global stages hosted by organizations including the Latino Foundation, UN Women, HACE, Latinas in Tech, Girls in Tech, the United Nations, UNWTO, Japan Expo, Nomadness, Expedia, and Phocuswright, among others.
