RICE and Airbnb bring the Entrepreneurship Academy to Atlanta

To support local residents in embracing the economic opportunities created by hosting and entrepreneurship, Airbnb is announcing this week the launch of our Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy – a flexible and interactive education program focused on empowering more people from diverse communities – in Atlanta. Working with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), a business generator that supports Black entrepreneurs, the Academy will include online workshops with top tips on hosting a space through Airbnb to earn extra income, with the option to connect with an experienced Superhost.

The Entrepreneurship Academy in Atlanta with RICE is the latest step in our broader commitment to long-term partnership with the City of Atlanta. This year, we announced the location of our new tech hub in the City of Atlanta, to serve as the home for one of our product development teams and the regional base for new technical and non-technical roles over time. 

“We are extremely excited to partner with Airbnb on the Entrepreneurship Academy. Providing equitable opportunities that will ultimately help our community thrive is a win for everyone.”

Burunda Prince, Chief Operating Officer of RICE

In close collaboration with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, the Atlanta Entrepreneurship Academy will offer two distinct programs to better understand the barriers that the Atlanta community faces, support entrepreneurs and unlock tourism potential, and identify solutions and educational materials in order to support community members who want to become successful Hosts on Airbnb. Last year, the Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy expanded to the United States, working with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to design and run an Academy for EBCI community members in rural North Carolina, and was launched in Los Angeles in partnership with the Brotherhood Crusade during the 2022 Super Bowl. 

“As an Airbnb Host and member of the Host Advisory Board, I’m so excited to see this Academy and partnership with RICE to encourage more people of color, particularly Black folks, to recognize the opportunity in hosting their homes. I’ve been hosting my tiny home in my backyard for over 8 years and it has brought so many interesting, diverse, and wonderful guests to Atlanta.”

-Host Nadia Giordani

There will be two distinct sessions that are immersive and include first-hand exposure to the platform itself, as well as modules focusing on storytelling and encouraging hosts to explore their personal journey. 

“We are so pleased to launch our Entrepreneurship Academy with RICE, not only to introduce these entrepreneurs to hosting, but also the global Airbnb community to Black Hosts in Atlanta. Hosting empowers entrepreneurs across the city as they use the ownership economy to create income, jobs, and build generational wealth.”

-Nia Brown, Airbnb Public Policy Manager

The economic opportunity of hosting in Atlanta

In 2021, the typical US Host’s income rose to over $13,800, an increase of 85 percent over 2019. New US Hosts also saw an increase in combined income in 2021, earning over $1.8 billion – up 34 percent from 2019¹. In fact, Georgia ranked as the fifth most lucrative state in the US for new Host income in 2021, with new Hosts statewide earning approximately $80 million. 

Since 2010, Hosts in Georgia have earned a total of $1.2 billion with more than $455 million in just 2021 alone, and 56 percent of Hosts in Atlanta self-identify as women, and 35 percent are families². According to a survey of our US Host community, 42 percent said the money they earned on Airbnb helped them stay in their homes. About 40 percent of Hosts in Atlanta are either a small or independent business owner themselves, or live with one; 12 percent are artists or musicians; and 10 percent are teachers.