Airbnb raises $555.5m in move to global expansion

Google Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures are lead investors in funding round

Airbnb is seeking up to $850 million in new funding as it expands around the world. Photograph: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg

Airbnb has said it has raised $555.5 million in new funds as the company, which lets people to rent out their homes to travellers, expands around the world. This funding round, which values the San Francisco-based company at $30 billion, could eventually reach $850 million, said a person familiar with the matter.

Bloomberg reported last month that Airbnb was seeking up to $850 million in new funding at a $30 billion valuation. The company disclosed that it has raised $555.5 million in a regulatory filing on Thursday. Google Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures are lead investors in the round. The investors' names were previously reported by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, and Fortune earlier reported on plans for the regulatory filing.

Airbnb, Google parent Alphabet Inc and Technology Crossover Ventures declined to comment. As part of the funding efforts, Airbnb is allowing some employees to sell stock, which will total about $200 million, one of the people said. Arranged sales for employees can help relieve pressure on the company to go public or sell by letting staff cash out their equity stakes.

– (Bloomberg)