Airbnb

In October 2007, two broke designers in San Francisco named Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia had a crazy idea: rent out air mattresses in their living room to attendees of a design conference. They made a few hundred bucks and realized they were onto something. They brought in Nathan Blecharczyk, a technical co-founder, and in August 2008, Airbed and Breakfast was born. The name soon shortened to Airbnb. The early days were brutal. The founders maxed out credit cards and even sold novelty cereal boxes to keep the lights on. In 2009, they joined Y Combinator, which gave them the mentorship and funding to scale.

Airbnb's platform connects hosts offering their homes, rooms, or properties with travelers seeking places to stay. The company takes a commission from each booking. As of 2026, the marketplace boasts over 9 million active listings across more than 220 countries and regions. More than 5.5 million hosts have welcomed over 2.5 billion guest arrivals. The company has expanded beyond accommodations into Airbnb Experiences, offering activities like hiking, surfing, and food tours. Airbnb Plus provides verified, high-quality homes for upscale travelers, while Niido, a hotel-like brand, converts entire buildings into Airbnb units.

Airbnb went public in December 2020 in one of the biggest IPOs in U.S. history. By 2025, revenue reached $12.2 billion, with net income of $2.51 billion. Hosts have earned over $380 billion all-time, and the typical U.S. host made $15,600 in 2025. The company has collected and remitted more than $18 billion in taxes globally. But growth hasn't come without controversy. Critics accuse Airbnb of driving up housing prices and disrupting local communities, leading to tighter short-term rental regulations in cities worldwide. The company's Belo logo, introduced in 2014, sparked online ridicule for its design, but the brand weathered the storm.

Under CEO Brian Chesky, Airbnb continues to evolve from its couch-surfing roots into a full-fledged travel platform that competes with hotels and other booking sites. The company's mission, Belong Anywhere, remains central to its identity, emphasizing connection and authentic experiences over mere accommodation. [edit]