Airbnb is an online marketplace for lodging, principally homestays for tourism activities, and vacation rentals based in the United States. The platform, which is based in San Francisco, California, is available through a website and a mobile app. It does not own any of the houses advertised; instead, it makes money from commissions on each booking. Nathan Blecharczyk, Brian Chesky, and Joe Gebbia launched the company in 2008. Airbnb is an abbreviated version of AirBedandBreakfast.com.