Popular travel and apartment rental site Airbnb has quietly acquired Lapka, a Russian hardware start-up.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, Lapka divulged that it had been snapped up by Airbnb. However, the company did not disclose the sum for which it has been acquired. Airbnb is also keeping mum on the acquisition and the amount it shelled out to get Lapka in its kitty.
"I am super excited for Lapka to join Airbnb. Both companies share an extreme passion for design, beauty and meaningful, cinematic experiences. What we're capable of building together is beyond explanation, so let's leave that for later news. The future is long," noted Lapka's founder and CEO Vadik Marmeladov in a blog post.
Lapka has been acquired by Airbnb https://t.co/r7Tkdba24y pic.twitter.com/Q5Bq6Rzy0V
— Lapka (@myLapka) September 29, 2015
For the unfamiliar, Lapka is a tiny design studio which designs quirky-looking gadgets that are sensor-based. Some of its designed devices include wooden and ceramic blocks which can detect environmental data such as humidity and radiation, a breathalyzer that is smartphone assisted etc.
Lapka has also been instrumental in unveiling a concept sensor nodes for Google's impending Ara modular phone.
The acquisition has surprised market experts as one is unable to fathom how Airbnb will benefit with Lapka on board. Joe Gebbia, Airbnb's co-founder has let on that the company is thrilled to be working with Lapka's innovative talents.
"These guys have tenacity and drive towards creating the future, and I'm thrilled to get to work alongside them at Airbnb to create a world where people can belong anywhere," noted Gebbia.
Airbnb has let on that the partnership with Lapka does not mean that it will be foraying into device manufacturing. So for those who were dreaming of breathalyzers that are Airbnb-made in the next flat they rented in an exotic destination via the website - sorry to burst your bubble!
As part of the terms of the acquisition, Lapka's CEO Marmeladov will be joining the Airbnb team in San Francisco. However, his role in the organization is not known at this juncture. Marmeladov only divulged that the project he will be a part of "is beyond explanation."
Lapka will cease to exist as an individual entity and will close all operation, the development of new products and manufacturing.
