C
Couchsurfing
Stay with Locals and Make Travel Friends
About Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is a global hospitality exchange service that connects travelers with a network of hosts who offer free short-term accommodation. The platform operates on a subscription-based business model, requiring members in some countries to pay a fee to access the service. While hosts are not permitted to charge for lodging, the company generates revenue through these member contributions. The service is accessible via its website and mobile app, catering to a community of travelers and hosts interested in cultural exchange and shared experiences rather than monetary transactions for accommodation.
Couchsurfing's primary market consists of budget-conscious travelers, backpackers, and individuals seeking authentic travel experiences by connecting with locals. The platform fosters a community-driven ecosystem where the main value proposition is the cultural exchange and social interaction between hosts and guests. The company has transitioned from a non-profit to a for-profit entity, a move that has been met with mixed reactions from its user base. Despite the controversy, the platform continues to operate, leveraging its extensive database of users as its main asset.
Source: Dealroom company dataAt a glance
- Status
- Operational
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- Phoenix, United States
- Employees
- 103
- Open positions
- None listed
- Dealroom signal
- 77.7/100
- Industry
- Travel
- Sub-industry
- Online Travel Agency
- Sector
- Travel & Tourism, Verification, Adtech, SaaS, Travel, Messaging, Search Engine, Community, Sharing Economy, Freemium, App
- Client focus
- b2c
Knowledge graph
More headlines
Funding history
Company financing events and reported valuations.
| Deal type | Date | Amount | Valuation | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OtherOther financing | Jan 2017 | $0 | — | 10X Capital | — |
| SERIES B✓Equity / VC | Aug 2012 | $15M | $60M | Benchmark · Point Nine · Menlo Ventures · Gil Penchina | — |
Growth signals
Latest recorded traffic for Couchsurfing is 1.2M monthly website visits, down 14.3% over the last three months. Couchsurfing's team grew 3% over the past year.
Similar companies
Company identity and context are open; selected comparison metrics preview what is available on the platform.
Investments and acquisitions
Recent portfolio relationships for companies that also act as investors or acquirers.
Investors
From Dealroom's funding and investor records, grouped by the round each investor first entered.
Series A7 investors entered at this stage
Benchmark
Omidyar Network
Point Nine
General Catalyst
Menlo Ventures
Gil Penchina
Lumia Capital
Other known investors3 additional known investors
10X Capital- AFAnthology Fund
Structure Capital
Source: Dealroom Talent Intelligence.
Global footprint
team presence
Market sentiment
An AI-synthesised read of the highest-engagement posts about Couchsurfing on X, ranked by likes and reposts, corporate channels excluded.
Reading the room on X — pulling top posts and synthesizing themes…
Source: X recent search ranked by engagement (likes + retweets) · Synthesis by Claude · Cached for 1 hour
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