Whether it’s the next boot, UFO House, or a 6-ton potato, the first-of-its-size $10,000,000 OMG! The fund is seeking ideas from existing and aspiring designers, architects, DIYers, and makers from around the globe. The fund’s $10 million will help finance 100 of the craziest ideas, giving 100 people an opportunity to turn them into actual Airbnb OMG! Category listings are Airbnb’s collection of the most unique homes.
One hundred people with the craziest ideas will receive $100,000* each to make their creations possible and, ultimately, bookable. Ideas will be judged by an expert panel for their originality, feasibility, the experience the space will provide guests, and sustainability.
The fund is shaped in part by the growing trend of flexible living that has emerged in the past two years. As part of this shift, Airbnb guests are craving more unexpected spaces that become the destinations themselves, and Airbnb Categories, which launched last month, provide a new way to search for these spaces. More than 30,000 unique listings across the world were added to Airbnb in 2021 and the OMG! Category – which since introduced has been clicked on 2.5M times – showcases the craziest amongst them, making it easy for guests to discover these listings in places they wouldn’t have otherwise looked.
Hosting on Airbnb provides powerful economic benefits to Hosts. In 2021, the typical Host in the US earned over $13,800, an increase of 85 percent over 2019. This isn’t limited to existing Hosts – new Hosts in the US also saw an increase in income in 2021, earning over $1.8 billion, up 34 percent from 2019. Additionally, nights booked at unique properties increased globally by over 49 percent from 2019 to 2021.
Applications will be reviewed by a judging panel of boundary-pushing design authorities, an architectural expert, and an Airbnb OMG! Category Superhost:
- Iris Apfel, an incomparable and irreverent centenarian style icon
- Koichi Takada, founder of Sydney-based international studio Koichi Takada Architects, is known for emotive design inspired by the natural world
- Kristie Wolfe, Airbnb Superhost and prolific creator of OMG! Listings include the Potato Hotel, Crystal Peak Lookout, Big Island Treehouse, and Cocoon Cottage
- Bruce Vaughn, Disney alum and Airbnb’s VP of Experiential Creative Product
The $10,000,000 OMG! Fund opens through July 22 at 11:59 pm ET. The 100 fund recipients will be selected by the panel over the next several months, with the intent of having their newly-constructed spaces complete next year. To apply, visit airbnb.com/omgfund.
