Airbnb has acquired Crashpadder, a London-based company that runs an online marketplace where people can list their homes and apartments to be rented out for short stays (essentially, it was like a smaller Airbnb.) Financial terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed.
Visitors to Crashpadder’s website are automatically directed to a landing page about the Airbnb deal, which will apparently affect Crashpadder users immediately. A message signed by Crashpadder co-founders Stephen Rapoport and Dan Hill (impressively, the company’s only two employees) reads in part: “As part of the transition, we will automatically move your Crashpadder account to Airbnb. All of your account and listing information will be preserved. For security reasons, you will need to set a new Airbnb password upon moving your account. Simply click below to learn more and get started.”
Airbnb has been ambitious on the international expansion front in recent months, having drummed up lots of fanfare about its “London launch” last month and laying out plans to open up new offices in Spain, Denmark, Italy, Russia, France and Brazil over the course of this year. The timing on its expansion in London especially is key, with the 2012 Olympics slated to be held there this summer. It will be interesting to see how much more international growth Airbnb does through M&A in the months ahead.