# Polina Raygorodskaya

> Polina Raygorodskaya is the co-founder and executive chairwoman of Wanderu, a bus and train search and booking platform serving North America and Europe. A Babson College graduate and former fashion PR entrepreneur, she led Wanderu as CEO for twelve years before moving to the chairwoman role in June 2024. Her experience as a frequent bus passenger helped inspire the business.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and Executive Chairwoman at Wanderu
- **Organizations:** Wanderu, Polina Fashion LLC, Babson College
- **From:** Saint Petersburg, Russia
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Babson College, Honorary Doctor of Laws, Babson College
- **Known for:** Co-founded Wanderu and served as CEO for twelve years., Led Wanderu through its public launch, expansion into Europe and profitability milestone in 2017., Inc. 30 Under 30, 2015.

## Career timeline

- **2006** — Started Polina Fashion LLC while studying at Babson College.
- **2008** — Graduated from Babson College.
- **2011** — A canceled rideshare during a national parks and forests trip in rural Virginia helped inspire Wanderu.
- **2012** — Co-founded Wanderu with Igor Bratnikov.
- **2013** — Wanderu won the SXSW Accelerator Innovative Web Technologies category and publicly launched in the Northeast.
- **2014** — Wanderu partnered with Greyhound.
- **2015** — Wanderu added Amtrak ticket booking; Raygorodskaya was recognized in Inc. 30 Under 30.
- **2016** — Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Consumer Tech with Igor Bratnikov.
- **2017** — Wanderu became profitable and expanded into Europe; Raygorodskaya appeared on the cover of Inc.
- **2019** — Received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Babson College.
- **2024** — Moved from CEO to executive chairwoman as Andrew Savikas became CEO on June 26.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Wanderu and served as CEO for twelve years.
- Led Wanderu through its public launch, expansion into Europe and profitability milestone in 2017.
- Inc. 30 Under 30, 2015.
- Fortune 40 Under 40 Women to Watch, 2015.
- Forbes 30 Under 30, Consumer Tech, 2016.
- Featured on the October 2017 cover of Inc. magazine.
- Included in Inc. Female Founders 100 in 2018.
- Babson College honorary Doctor of Laws, 2019.

## Latest updates

- **2024-06** — Wanderu announced Andrew Savikas as CEO on June 26, with Raygorodskaya assuming the executive chairwoman role after twelve years as CEO.

## Links

- Website: https://www.wanderu.com/en-us/about-us/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/polinatravels
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/polinatravels

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/polina-raygorodskaya
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-26