Airbnb, the website that allows people to rent out their homes and apartments, was Inc. Magazine's company of the year in 2014. Airbnb was started as a way for people to rent out their living spaces when they weren't home and for travelers to rent a better quality stay for a lesser price. However, overtime we have seen people use Airbnb for more than just hotel stay. People have been using the platform to find wedding venues, host parties, take gap years and make extra cash to fund new projects and life ventures. Airbnb has inspired people to travel, helped relieve the fear of finances while they're away and they have helped build a culture of sharing with strangers.
After reviewing the venues, the people and the available locations on Airbnb, I have discovered five ways that startups could be using Airbnb for their businesses.
1. Funding
Airbnb can help fund your startup in a couple of ways. If you are attending events such as Startup Grind 2015 in Sacramento to seek funding from investor or traveling from city to city to meet with investors, Airbnb should be your choice place to stay. The price to stay in an Airbnb that will have enough space for multiple people can amount to only one tenth of the cost of a regular hotel for those same amenities. Not to mention, that if you choose a nice place you can hold your meetings there as well. Use a nice Airbnb to swoon the investor!
The second way that people have been using Airbnb for funding is by a spare bedroom or their entire homes for the startup money. A co-founder of a start up called Whttl, Greg Muender, published a piece on LinkedIn on how he was funding his latest startup, SpareSquare, by renting out his extra room. He has been able to make an additional $2,000/month to fund his latest project by opening his extra space to travelers. It can be done.
2. Think Tanks and Team Building
Did you know that Airbnb now has studios, warehouses, cottages and even private islands for rent on their site? Yes, PRIVATE ISLANDS! Be a better a boss and take your team or build a think tank and rent a space that is not only inspiring, but way more unique than a resort or an office space. It is no secret that team building and think tanks need a location that will inspire new ideas. Airbnb offers that.
3. Create Buyer Personas
In the age of digital marketing we have the ability to find out a lot about our customers. We can find out what they openly like, search for, who they know, what they do, etc.. However, now we can find our audiences on Airbnb, rent their homes and literally live in their shoes for a day. Staying in the living space of our customers will give us insight into brands they buy, what they see when they wake up and when they go to bed. Why not do some market research and get to know the people that you are trying to reach?
4. Test Service Areas
If you are thinking of starting a business, expanding a business, or you currently have a business that services one or more local areas you should do some research and test the area. Stay at an Airbnb in that area and test your service or test the competitions service. Make note of the flaws, the potential market and the needs of these areas. Market research gets overlooked too often and it can change your entire business model if you go through the process as your customers would.
5. Content
Need to have a photo shoot or film video content? Why not use an Airbnb? The spaces available are amazing. You can get great locations at less of a cost. These places can be quite unique and it takes a lot of the work out of scouting for locations. In fact, you can check out Airbnb's list of "Atypical Places to Stay" and find a real gem!
I am sure I haven't thought of everything and Airbnb could be used for several more uses. I urge you to check it out and explore it's options. Remember, if you are going to use the space for anything other than what the host has specified as allowed, let them know. Don't abuse the service by not informing your host of your intentions.