Airbnb raises $555M in new funding led by Google Capital and TCV read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/971-airbnb-raises-555m-in-new-funding-led-by-google-capital-and-tcv

Airbnb has raised $555 million in a new round of funding lead by Google Capital. The new funding would value Airbnb as the second most valuable private company behind Uber, recently valued at $68 billion. 

Airbnb helps people rent out their homes to travelers, often private homes, dwellings, for overnight stays through its online marketplace. The company has expanded to 34,000 cities world-wide. 

The new round of funding could push Airbnb's valuationA up to $30 billion, as Airbnb is hoping to reach $850 million in total funding for the round. Along with Google, Technology Crossover Ventures is said to have lead the round, valuing the company at $105 a share, higher than the $93.09 a share investors paid in last year’s round that put Airbnb’s valuation at $25.5 billion.

As part of the funding efforts, Airbnb is allowing some employees to sell stock, which will total about $200 million. The company also has at least six mutual-fund companies as investors, including Fidelity Investments, T. Rowe Price Group and Morgan Stanley Investment Management.

At $30 billion, Airbnb is the fourth-most valuable venture-backed tech company in the world, after ride-hailing services Uber Technologies Inc. and Didi Chuxing Technology Co. and Chinese handset maker Xiaomi Corp.