How Airbnb Works | Insights into Business & Revenue Model

What is Airbnb? Airbnb is an online marketplace connecting travelers with local hosts. On one side the platform enables people to list their available space and earn extra income in the form of rent. On the other, Airbnb enables travelers to book unique home stays from local hosts, saving them money and giving them a chance to interact with locals. Catering to the on-demand travel industry, Airbnb is present in over 190 countries across the world. Founders, Funding received, Salient features & Facts: Airbnb was founded on 1 August, 2008 and in a short span of time it grew as a technology masterpiece. Having received a massive funding of $2.3 Billion from 31 different investors, Airbnb is a part of the Billion dollar club. Here are few interesting facts about Airbnb. Founders: Nathan Blecharczyk, Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky. Funding received: $3.89 Billion (Till December 2015) Airbnb company valuation: $25.5 Billion (As of June 2015) Airbnb is present in 34,000+ cities across 190+ countries. Having 1.2 Million listings, the company has served over 35 Million guests. Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA. 140,000+ people stay at an Airbnb listed place everyday. The massive funding received by Airbnb has made it enter the million dollar club. Airbnb’s recent funding of $1.5 Billion in one go is one of the largest funding rounds ever conducted. Can Airbnb generate such huge amounts of revenue? Well, maybe yes. Before moving on to read about Airbnb’s customer segments, value propositions and understanding its business model canvas, lets go through Airbnb Timeline.