Founded by Joe Gebbia, Brian Chesky, and Nathan Blecharczyk, our story begins in the living room of Joe and Brian's San Francisco loft in 2007. Alumni of the Rhode Island School of Design, they knew that a prominent design conference was coming to town, but that all the nearby hotel rooms had been booked solid. Living the 'creativity can solve problems' creed of their alma mater, they decided to offer up their place, along with tasty breakfast and local hospitality, to a few friendly strangers attending the event.

As it turned out, there were many people out there looking for places to stay where the hospitality was genuine and the M&Ms didn't cost $6. In staying this way, their guests also gained insight into the city from a fresh, local perspective, making for a truly authentic and memorable experience. Two air mattresses, a thousand dollars, three new friends, and many high fives later, the entrepreneurs realized an opportunity. Soon after, the duo became a trio as master programmer, Nathan Blecharczyk, joined as the third co-founder. With the founding team complete, the three set off on a course to change the way people travel.

What began with three guys and airbeds has now evolved into a thriving business. Offering a diversity of accommodations - from private homes to private islands in over 16,000 cities in 186 countries - Airbnb unlocks the doors to unique spaces around the globe. Now people can discover a authentic, local side of the cities and cultures they visit while providing their hosts with a new stream of income. Our community is comprised of users, passionate and eager to explore and enrich the world through the sharing of space. We invite you to join the movement and become part of our story.