Leigh Gallagher
8 key ideas, each explained in our own words.
The Airbnb Story
- IDEA 1
Air mattresses started a company
Gallagher describes how two young designers, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, rented air mattresses in their San Francisco flat to visitors during a busy conference in 2007. The idea grew into Airbnb, a platform for renting homes to travellers.
- IDEA 2
Founders survived by selling cereal
When Airbnb struggled, the founders sold specially designed cereal boxes during the 2008 election to raise money. The stunt kept them going. In Gallagher's account, this unusual idea showed the founders' creativity and refusal to give up when money was very short.
- IDEA 3
Y Combinator helped them
Airbnb joined Y Combinator, a startup programme that provided advice and funding. It helped the founders focus. In Gallagher's account, the mentors there pushed the founders to talk to their users and to focus on growing the service.
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