Joe Gebbia | The Creative Force Behind Airbnb and Samara
The Founder Hour
The Impact of a Challenging 3D Design Class
This chapter explores a transformative experience in a demanding 3D foundations class at RISD, highlighting the intense pressure and expectations placed on students. The speaker reflects on the impact of a challenging chess set project and the lessons it offered in materiality and design fundamentals.
Joe Gebbia's journey began in Georgia, where his early interest in sports led him to work as a ball boy for the Atlanta Hawks. However, his true passion lay in art, earning him the nickname "art guy" in school as he spent countless hours drawing from comic books. This passion led him to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he discovered industrial design and the work of Charles and Ray Eames. A pivotal moment came when a professor doubted his art project, but Joe secured school funding and proved the professor wrong, showcasing his early entrepreneurial spirit.
At RISD, Joe met Brian Chesky, and he felt an instant connection, believing they would create something significant together. After graduation, Joe moved to San Francisco and convinced Brian to join him, leading to the creation of Airbnb. Faced with skepticism and rejection from investors and law firms, Joe drew on his art background to reframe challenges as opportunities. This resilience paid off as Airbnb became a global phenomenon, changing how people travel and connect.
Joe's journey at Airbnb taught him invaluable leadership lessons and underscored the importance of creativity and innovation. His artistic sensibility helped him approach problems with a fresh perspective, leading to the creation of Samara, a venture focused on reimagining home design. After Airbnb went public, Joe branched Samara out as a separate company, recognizing the potential in the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) space.
Beyond Airbnb, Joe relocated to Austin, Texas, becoming a minority owner of the San Antonio Spurs and aligning his entrepreneurial pursuits with his passion for sports. Committed to making a positive impact, Joe is passionate about causes such as homelessness and environmental sustainability. He also helped establish the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, reflecting his commitment to fostering creativity and innovation. Joe Gebbia's story is one of resilience, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of dreams, inspiring others to embrace their passions and challenge the status quo.
*
The Founder Hour is brought to you by Outer. Outer makes the world’s most beautiful, comfortable, innovative, and high-quality outdoor furniture - ALL from sustainable materials - and is the ONLY outdoor furniture with a patented built-in cover to make protecting it effortless. From teak chairs to fire pit tables, everything Outer makes has the look and feel of what you’d expect at a 5-star resort, for less than you’d pay at a big box store for something that won’t last. For a limited time, get 10% off at www.liveouter.com/thefounderhour. Terms and conditions apply.
Customers are flocking to your store—do you have a reliable point-of-sale system? Shopify POS is your retail command center, handling payments, inventory, and more. Choose from hardware options like smartphone, tablet, or Shopify's POS Go device. With award-winning support, Shopify helps you succeed every step of the way. Get started with a $1/month trial at www.shopify.com/founderhour.
Still using your personal phone number for your startup in 2024? OpenPhone makes it easy to get business phone numbers for your team with an app that works on both phone and computer. It integrates with CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce, and offers AI-powered call transcripts and summaries. Plus, your whole team can access the same number. Start at $15/user/month, but The Founder Hour listeners get 20% off for 6 months. Visit https://www.openphone.com/founder to start your free trial!
Stressed, sleepless, or need a health boost? Try Magnesium Breakthrough from BiOptimizers! It’s the only supplement with 7 types of magnesium, each with unique benefits like muscle recovery, heart health, and energy production. All-natural, vegan, and gluten-free. Visit www.bioptimizers.com/founderhour and use code FOUNDERHOUR for 10% off.
***
Follow The Founder Hour on:
Instagram | www.instagram.com/thefounderhour
Twitter/X | www.x.com/thefounderhour
LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/thefounderhour
YouTube | www.youtube.com/@thefounderhour
The AI-powered Podcast Player
