Celebrating 100 Episodes of STR Data Lab: A Look Back at AirDNA’s Journey with Co-Founders Scott Shatford and Tom Caton

Sep 26, 2024

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As we hit this 100th episode milestone, we want to take a moment to thank all of our listeners for your support. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or joined us along the way, we appreciate you being part of this journey!

In this 100th episode of the STR Data Lab, Jamie celebrates the milestone by sitting down with AirDNA co-founders Scott Shatford and Tom Caton to reflect on the company’s journey and what lies ahead. They recount the early days, starting with Scott’s 2014 project—a book and website analyzing short-term rentals in Santa Monica. Despite regulatory hurdles, this effort quickly evolved into a key resource for understanding Airbnb listings, laying the groundwork for AirDNA.

Tom joined Scott in 2015, forming a business partnership during a sailing trip. From there, they pushed forward to build AirDNA into a powerful data platform, with the development of MarketMinder being a critical turning point. They also discuss the transition from delivering insights via simple PDF reports to creating a comprehensive SaaS platform that continues to shape the short-term rental industry. Throughout the episode, they highlight their decision to bootstrap the company, staying independent of external funding.

The episode explores the technical and business challenges they faced, including the complexities of data scraping, adapting to changes in Airbnb’s algorithm, and the massive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the business, Scott and Tom share how they managed stress, balanced luck with hard work, and navigated key decisions that led to AirDNA’s success and eventual sale.

Post-sale, Tom has turned his attention to new projects, including developing a murder mystery board game and investigating business fraud. Scott, meanwhile, enjoys traveling and personal hobbies like golf and ping pong, though both hint at possible new ventures in the future.

This episode offers a detailed look at how AirDNA grew from a niche idea into an industry-leading platform. You don’t want to miss it!

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Signup for AirDNA for FREE👇

https://app.airdna.co/data

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Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn and Twitter:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiehlane/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Lane

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Connect with Scott on LinkedIn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagescott

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