Fundraising Fox

Sam Shank

Founder

Founder at Hotel Tonight

San Francisco, California, United States

Writes $10K – $50K checks · typically $25K

FoundedHotel Tonight

About

Sam Shank is co-founder of Stand, an AI-native homeowners insurance company, and serves as an advisor to marketplaces and online travel platforms including Nuitee, Joy, GameTime, and Operto. He previously founded and served as CEO of HotelTonight, a last-minute hotel booking application that he grew to over $100 million in funding and billions in gross hotel bookings before its acquisition by Airbnb in 2019, where he subsequently held roles including Head of Guest Experience and Head of Commercialization. His earlier ventures include founding DealBase.com, a travel deals search engine, and TravelPost.com, a hotel reviews site.

Founder at Hotel Tonight

Intro paths

→

In turn, Sam can intro founders to Hotel Tonight's investors below.

Hotel Tonight's investors · 13

AccelPalo Alto · $1.6M – $70M checks · since 2017Acrew CapitalSan Francisco · $1M – $15M checks · since 2017Aspect VenturesPalo Alto · since 2017Battery VenturesBoston · $500K – $100M checks · since 2017Coatue ManagementNew York · $1M – $20M checksFounder CollectiveCambridge · since 2017Founders Circle CapitalSan Francisco · since 2017Lobby CapitalPalo Alto · since 2017Manhattan Venture PartnersNew York · since 2017Notable CapitalSilicon Valley · $5M – $50M checks · since 2017Owl Capitalsince 2017Top Corner CapitalBurlingame · since 2017US Venture PartnersMenlo Park · $500K – $10M checks · since 2017

Co-founders at Hotel Tonight

JS
Jared SimonDirector

Experience

  1. StandCo-Foundercurrent2023 — present
  2. NuitéeAdvisorcurrent2025 — present
  3. Terra MobilityBoard Membercurrent2024 — present
  4. GametimeAdvisorcurrent2024 — present
  5. Operto Guest TechnologiesBoard Membercurrent2023 — present
  6. a16z speedrunVisiting Partner2025 — 2026San Francisco, CA
  7. AirbnbHead of Commercial Team2022San Francisco, California, United States
  8. AirbnbHead of Guest Experience2020 — 2022San Francisco, California, United States
  9. AirbnbHead of Hotels2019 — 2020San Francisco, California
  10. HotelTonightCEO2010 — 2022San Francisco Bay Area
  11. Runkeeper (ASICS Digital)Board Member2013 — 2016
  12. DealBase.comFounder & CEO2008 — 2010
  13. SideStepVP, Business Development2006 — 2007
  14. TravelPost.comCEO and Founder2004 — 2006
  15. Oracle CorporationSenior Manager, Business Development2000 — 2002
  16. NexTagDirector, Business Development1999 — 2000
  17. Excite@HomeManager, Business Development1998 — 1999
  18. CNET NetworksAssociate Producer1996 — 1998
  19. Wes Craven Films - SCREAMAssistant to the Producer1996Greater Los Angeles Area
  20. BoxerJam.comAssociate Product Manager1994 — 1996Charlottesville, Virginia Area

Skills & more

Product Management62Business Development44Mergers5Entrepreneurship87E-commerce26Partnerships2Strategic Partnerships36Mobile Devices25Venture Capital19Start-ups99Social Media13Competitive Analysis1
+12 moreBusiness StrategyMarket ResearchMobile ApplicationsOnline AdvertisingMarketing StrategySEMSocial Media MarketingSEOSaaSWeb 2.0Google AdwordsManagement

From Sam's professional profile.

Network1

Aayush Phumbhra
Investor at Streamlined Ventures

Investors connected to Sam in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sam Shank?
Sam Shank is co-founder of Stand, an AI-native homeowners insurance company, and serves as an advisor to marketplaces and online travel platforms including Nuitee, Joy, GameTime, and Operto. He previously founded and served as CEO of HotelTonight, a last-minute hotel booking application that he grew to over $100 million in funding and billions in gross hotel bookings before its acquisition by Airbnb in 2019, where he subsequently held roles including Head of Guest Experience and Head of Commercialization. His earlier ventures include founding DealBase.com, a travel deals search engine, and TravelPost.com, a hotel reviews site.
Where does Sam Shank work?
Sam Shank is Founder of Hotel Tonight.
What check size does Sam Shank write?
Sam Shank typically writes checks of $10K – $50K.
What companies did Sam Shank found?
Sam Shank founded Hotel Tonight.
Where did Sam Shank go to school?
Sam Shank studied at Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management (MBA, Entrepreneurship); University of Virginia (BA, English); WAHS.

Same school

Also attended Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management760

Jenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaKunal BahlCo-founder of Snapdeal; co-founder of Titan CapitalCristina JunqueiraCo-founder of NubankAndy FligelSenior Managing Director at Intel CapitalDavid Clark GuillermoInvestments at Impact America FundGiuseppe DonvitoPartner at P101 Ventures

+ 754 more

Also attended University of Virginia572

Alexis OhanianFounder & General Partner of Seven Seven SixAndy FligelSenior Managing Director at Intel CapitalKandace ElamVice President of GTM Talent at Menlo VenturesTrevor KienzleInvestor at Correlation VenturesFrank RotmanCo-Founder and Partner Emeritus at QED InvestorsMegan LightcapPartner, Creator Fund at Slow Ventures

+ 566 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Stand3

Aidan Madigan-CurtisPartner at Eclipse VenturesNeeraj HablaniPartner at Neotribe VenturesDan PrestonExecutive Officer, Director at Metromile

Also worked at Operto Guest Technologies1

Darren HustonFounder at BlackPines Capital Partners

Also worked at HotelTonight14

Jeff RichardsInvestor at GGV CapitalTom MendozaInvestor at EQT VenturesKen LovelessPartner, Co-Founder at Founders Circle CapitalRick LewisGeneral Partner at US Venture PartnersJim WilliamsSenior Advisor at Frazier Life SciencesJared SimonSenior Advisor (Co-Founder HotelTonight) at Grishin Robotics

+ 8 more

Also worked at SideStep4

Kenneth Benson SawyerCo-Founder and Managing Partner at Saints CapitalCarlos SilvaPartner at FaberNuno Cerdeira BaptistaExpert Advisory Board — Global Field CISO and CTO for Aviation & Transportation at 33NReid BrodaSecretary at JP Morgan Chase