Update 10/24/2012 – (12:10 p.m. PT): Someone pointed out that the $117 million amount mentioned in Airbnb Form D filing is actually an update to the company’s $112 million round that was initially reported in July 2011. (See the full update at the bottom of the page.)
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Social bed and breakfast startup Airbnb has secured a long-rumored giant round of $117 million in funding, according to an SEC Form D issued today.
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Airbnb helps people rent out portions of their homes, apartments, or other unoccupied spaces as if they were bed and breakfasts. The company gives its uses tools to list all amenities, keep track of booking guests, and even insures the living space from damage. It’s become a vastly popular alternative to hotels for people who travel, especially during music festivals, conventions, and the like.
Back in June, the company reported that a total of 10 million people had used the service since it launched in 2008.
Its unclear exactly who invested in the new round. Billionaire Peter Thiel may have invested a large chunk of change in Airbnb, as VentureBeat previously reported. The new funding could boost Airbnb’s valuation to more than $2 billion. (The company’s last big round was $112 million in 2011, which put it into the billion-dollar valuation club.)
Founded in 2008, the San Francisco, Calif.-based startup has raised a total of $230 million in funding to date from Andreessen Horowitz, DST, General Catalyst, Jeff Bezos, and others.
Update 10/24/2012 – (12:10 p.m. PT): Someone pointed out that the $117 million amount mentioned in Airbnb Form D filing is actually an update to the company’s $112 million round that was initially reported in July 2011. Airbnb did, however, file the Form D late.
“Technically the Form D should have been filed 15 business days after the first sell of the B. This would not be their first time (for Airbnb) to file something late,” said VCExperts Direction of Business Intelligence Justin Byers, who pointed out our mistake. “(Airbnb) had a forward split (1 to 4) that can be seen between Restated Cert filings on 4/29/2010 and 11/03/2010, but the “Certificate of Correction” filed showing the amendment and the split was not filed until 7/18/2011, after the split was represented in new.”
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We’ve reached out to Airbnb for further clarification about the funding (as well as why the Form D was filed late), and will update this post with any new information.
Update #2 – (12:48 p.m. PT): An Airbnb spokesperson responded to VentureBeat with the following statement:
Airbnb filed a Form D today with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering the company’s issuance of shares of its preferred stock as a part of its Series B financing, which initially closed over a year ago, on July 22, 2011. Today’s filing was a customary notification related to the company’s prior Series B financing, and is unrelated to any other financing that the company may choose to undertake in the future.
The spokesperson didn’t comment about why the Form D was filed late, or if the startup is seeking a fresh round of funding.
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Woman lying on a bed of money photo via Jason Stitt/Shutterstock
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