Innovation America Innovation America Accelerating the growth of the GLOBAL entrepreneurial innovation economy
Founded by Rich Bendis

In April, San Francisco startup Airbnb.com made enough money to allow the firm's founders to hire employees so they could expand their online marketplace that enables people in 93 countries to rent spare rooms to travelers.

Since then, the startup has created seven jobs - a tiny step in the right direction at a time when the U.S. unemployment rate has risen to a 26-year high of 10.2 percent.

Small businesses starting to hire