Addressing the problem of discrimination with temp-lodging startup Airbnb are two new tech startups – Noirbnb and Noirebnb.
Combatting #AirbnbWhileBlack, Noirbnb entrepreneurs Ronnia Cherry and Stefan Grant tell USA Today how their own experience with #AirbnbWhileBlack led them to launch Noirbnb. The pair had booked a house in Atlanta back in October.
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“The next day the neighbors called the police because they thought we were robbing the house,” said Grant. “The cops showed up with guns drawn. Luckily we were able to deescalate the situation.”
Airbnb reached out to the pair after spotting a selfie they had taken with the responding officers to offer free bookings on the service. However, Grant explains, that wasn’t going to solve the problem.
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“We wanted to make sure our situation never happened again. That’s when we conceptualized Noirbnb,” said Grant.
Announced over the weekend, Noirbnb, Cherry states, “The response has been amazing and beyond anything we expected.”
Also available is Noirebnb, a startup with a very similar name addressing the same issue.
Noirbnb is in talks with Noirebnb about resolving the similarity that could be confusing to patrons.
“We haven’t reached an agreement, but we are open,” said Cherry.
At the very least those of us who have experienced #AirbnbWhileBlack will have alternative options.
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