Airbnb's Near Death and Survival | YESODI

Airbnb's Near Death and Survival

By Business Stories

Business Stories September 24, 2026

When Airbnb was nearly broke in 2009, founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia got creative. They printed boxes of cereal branded "Obama O's" and "Cap'n McCain's," sold them for $40 each during the election, and raised $4,000 that kept the lights on for another month.

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