The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan 524: In Retrospect - From Air Mattress to $31 Billion | The UNLIKELY Rise of Airbnb
Aug 9, 2024
Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb and designer-entrepreneur, shares his inspiring journey from a struggling startup to a $31 billion hospitality giant. He reveals the quirky fundraising tale of selling custom cereal boxes, which saved them financially during tough times. Gebbia discusses the importance of solving personal problems and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on persistence and taking small steps. His experiences unveil the key to Airbnb's success and the social impact of their platform on hosts during economic struggles.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Meeting The Co-Founder At RISD
- Joe met Brian at RISD and they became close collaborators through projects and campus ventures.
- Their shared entrepreneurial streak and chemistry made them natural co-founders for future startups.
The First Airbed Weekend
- Joe and Brian inflated an air mattress in their living room and listed it for a sold-out design conference.
- The first guests paid and the weekend validated hosting as an experience and small business model.
A Fast Five-Page Launch
- They built a five-page site in under two weeks and relied on design blogs and the conference to drive traffic.
- Early outreach to firms and blogs produced the first wave of users and applications from attendees.