Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia to step aside and focus on new projects

Head of the firm's future orientated product development team Samara says his head is 'bursting with more ideas to bring to the world'

One of the co-founders of Airbnb Joe Gebbia has announced he is stepping aside to pursue new projects and spend time with his family having become a father.

Gebbia has become an advisor to the home sharing platform and will continue to serve on Airbnb’s board non-profit arm airbnb.org. 

In a letter announcing the move he said parenthood will be the first ‘start-up’ new venture he will focus on.

He also plans to work on documentary filmmaking and other philanthropic projects as well as “complementary product to Airbnb”.

Gebbia, who headed up Airbnb’s future orientated product development team Samara, helped to found San Francisco-based digital disruptor alongside Brian Chesky, the firm’s chief executive, and chief strategy officer Nathan Blecharczyk in 2008.

He said: “The whole operation is in the best hands it’s ever been in.”

Gebbia added in his letter: “The primary reason for this transition is that this is the only company I’ve ever helped build, and my brain is bursting with more ideas to bring to the world.”