Airbnb's New Endowment Fund Seeks to Give Hosts a Piece of the IPO Action
Skift Take
The Airbnb Host Endowment wouldn't turn hosts into investors in the IPO. But by earmarking 9.2 million shares to fund the endowment, it may counteract the feeling among a few hosts that going public would only benefit elite investors and employees. It's a clever and creative move by Airbnb, but more fundamental host issues remain.
Airbnb is creating a host endowment fund, which is an effort to mend host relations, and to assure them that the company's pending initial public offering would not just be benefiting investors and employees with stock options.
Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky announced Friday that it plans to fund the endowment with 9.2 million Airbnb shares, and it would start investing the endowment in educ
