Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk co-founded Airbnb in San Francisco in 2008.
The idea grew from a practical problem: Chesky and Gebbia needed help paying their rent, while a design conference had filled many local hotels. They hosted guests on air mattresses in their apartment, inspiring the original name “AirBed & Breakfast.”
Nathan Blecharczyk joined as the technical co-founder, helping build the website and booking infrastructure. The company was initially called AirBed & Breakfast before shortening its name to Airbnb in 2009.
Airbnb differs from a traditional hotel chain because it operates as a marketplace connecting guests with hosts who offer homes, rooms, and other accommodations. Early growth was difficult, and the founders famously sold novelty cereal boxes during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign to raise money. A common mix-up is treating Airbnb as a property owner; its core business is the platform that facilitates reservations.