CouchSurfing facts for kids
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| Type of business | C corporation |
|---|---|
| Available in | English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Spanish |
| Founded | 2 April 2003 (New Hampshire nonprofit organization) 3 May 2011 (Delaware for-profit corporation) |
| Area served | Global |
| Founder(s) | Casey Fenton Daniel Hoffer Sebastian Le Tuan Leonardo Bassani da Silveira |
| Key people | Patrick Dugan (CEO) Francesco Deparis (Director of Operations) |
| Products | Homestay |
| Services | Social networking service |
| Users | 12,000,000 users |
| Launched | 12 June 2004 |
CouchSurfing is a cool way for people who love to travel to find free places to stay for a short time. It's also a great way to meet other travelers and locals. You can use it through their website or a mobile app. While people who host guests don't charge money, some users now pay a small fee to use the platform.
Contents
History of CouchSurfing
How CouchSurfing Started (1999–2004)
The idea for CouchSurfing came from a computer programmer named Casey Fenton. He was 21 years old in 1999 when he thought of it. Casey found a cheap flight to Iceland but didn't have a place to stay. He sent emails to many students at the University of Iceland asking for a place to sleep. He got many offers and stayed with a local singer.
On his way back home, he decided to create a website for this idea. He registered the name couchsurfing.com in June 1999. Casey was also inspired by a trip to Egypt where locals showed him around.
Couchsurfing International Inc. started on April 2, 2003. It was first set up as a non-profit group in New Hampshire. The website officially launched on June 12, 2004. Casey worked with Dan Hoffer, Sebastien Le Tuan, and Leonardo Silveira to make it happen.
Building the Website with Volunteers (2006–2011)
For several years, volunteers helped build the CouchSurfing website. They met at events called "Couchsurfing Collectives" around the world. These events took place in places like Montreal, Vienna, and Thailand. Volunteers worked together to improve the website.
However, the website often had problems and would crash. Many people felt it needed to be completely rebuilt. Sometimes, volunteers came just to party, which made it harder to get work done.
In June 2006, a big problem happened. Much of the website's information was lost. Casey Fenton asked for help online. Volunteers at a Collective in Montreal raised money and worked to rebuild the site. By 2007, more people were searching for CouchSurfing online than for other similar services.
Becoming a For-Profit Company (2011)
CouchSurfing tried to become a special non-profit organization in 2007. But the government did not approve this status in 2011. This meant the company had to change.
In August 2011, CouchSurfing became a for-profit company. It raised $7.6 million from investors to help it grow. Many members were upset about this change. They felt it broke the original promise of being a non-profit group. Casey Fenton received many emails from unhappy members.
The company briefly had a special certification for businesses that do good. But this certification was later removed. In August 2012, CouchSurfing received another $15 million in funding. That same year, they launched mobile apps for iOS and Android phones.
Changes in Leadership (2012–2015)
Tony Espinoza became the CEO of CouchSurfing in April 2012. During his time, the number of members doubled. However, many new users were less interested in hosting or helping others. There were disagreements between Casey Fenton and Tony Espinoza. Casey Fenton, the founder, eventually left the company.
The company also faced financial difficulties and had to reduce its team. After Tony Espinoza, Jennifer Billock became the CEO in October 2013.
New Investments and Features (2015-Present)
In 2015, CouchSurfing needed more money to keep going. Patrick Dugan, an investor, provided new funding. This investment led to changes in the company's leadership. Casey Fenton was no longer involved in the daily operations of CouchSurfing.
In June 2016, the company added a new feature to its mobile app called "hangouts." This feature lets members quickly meet up with other nearby members.
Subscription Model (2020)
In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, CouchSurfing changed how it works. It started asking users in some countries to pay a fee to use the platform. This made it a subscription service.
See also
In Spanish: CouchSurfing para niños
- Altruism
- Gift economy
- Hospitality
- List of hospitality exchange services
- Reputation system
Images for kids
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Lunch at former headquarters in San Francisco
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Jennifer Billock, CEO of CouchSurfing from October 2013 to October 2015
