Airbnb's $850m cash injection places its value at $30bn
Airbnb has reportedly raised $850m in its latest funding round, according to Bloomberg – a move that could see it become the world's fourth most valuable tech startup.
Airbnb's latest funding round could bump up its value to £30bn
The cash injection places the value of the company at the $30bn mark and could help it claim a higher spot on the coveted list of so-called tech 'unicorns'; companies which are deemed to have a value of $1bn or more.
US ride hailing giant Uber, which has been valued at $68bn, is currently the most valuable unicorn in the world.
Investors in the Airbnb funding round have not been revealed, but the move comes as the company looks to position itself as a brand-building channel, making calls for advertisers to view it as a "media owner" rather than an accommodation website.
The firm has also been making forays into urban planning projects and community construction programmes designed to draw tourists off the beaten track.
The most recent funding round is not the largest Airbnb has experienced, in 2015 the startup raised $1.5bn in one go.