What was Airbnb originally called when it launched in 2008?

Airbnb was originally called AirBed & Breakfast when it launched in 2008.

Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia created the service after renting out air mattresses in their San Francisco apartment during a design conference. Nathan Blecharczyk later joined as a co-founder and helped build the technology behind the service.

The original name described the first concept: short-term lodging on air beds with breakfast included. As hosts began listing spare rooms and entire homes, the company adopted the shorter name Airbnb, reflecting a broader accommodation marketplace.

Airbnb is often remembered as an overnight success, but the founders initially struggled to attract users and funding. They famously sold custom cereal boxes during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign to raise money, an episode often cited in startup stories about resourcefulness.