Background: Airtasker is the online marketplace where people outsource everything - from everyday chores to bizarre personal requests. It was founded in 2012 and listed on the ASX in 2017, but more recently, Airtasker has been gearing up for a major expansion into the US and UK.

What happened: Now, Airtasker has raised $10 million in cash from iHeartMedia as well as exchanging an additional $7.5 million in shares. But instead of receiving cash for the second tranche, Airtasker entered a media-for-equity deal (ie trading shares in exchange for advertising space).

What else: With this new deal, Airtasker will be promoted across iHeartMedia’s extensive audio and digital platforms, boosting its brand visibility in key international markets. The market didn’t love it: Airtasker’s share price fell 9% after the announcement.

What's the key learning?

💡Media-for-equity is where a company hands out shares in exchange for advertising instead of cash. And for fast-growing platforms like Airtasker, it’s a strategic way to access huge marketing reach without burning through cash reserves.

💡These deals work because they turn unused ad inventory into long-term upside. The media company gets equity, while the company gets the exposure needed to break into big global markets.

💡Airtasker has had a long-running reliance on media-for-equity partnerships with over $58 million in media-for-equity deals across the US, UK and Australia.