We tried to use airbnb here in Bali to search for a house but we had to give up as there were too many kinds of accommodations. Houses dubbed as villas, rooms dubbed as houses, one floor dubbed as a full house and even a gazebo where we were supposed to stay 2 months.
All this is fine but I wonder how usable it will become once you throw the hotels in.
Subject: Airbnb
141–146 of 146 posts
Re: Subject: Airbnb
#142Fred: "I'm just not sure how big it's going to be" - had he seen couchsurfing at the time? http://www.couchsurfing.org (launched as beta in 2003) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CouchSurfing Are Airbnb copycats?
I was wondering how ABNB would compete here as well. I guess just better/more marketing.
Re: Subject: Airbnb
#143Here's what I appreciated:
Both Fred and PG are willing to a) admit mistakes and b) be totally transparent about it and c) publish that transaction for others to learn from put them BOTH in a class above and beyond traditional VCs.
Are you "other" guys listening out there? This is why YC is eating your lunch with new startups...
Re: Subject: Airbnb
#144Fred: "I'm just not sure how big it's going to be" - had he seen couchsurfing at the time? http://www.couchsurfing.org (launched as beta in 2003) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CouchSurfing Are Airbnb copycats?
One huge difference is that couchsurfing is free... do some chores around the place maybe to be nice, but the whole point is sharing and using each other's space for free. I think Airbnb is aiming for a different market, actually - for example, my parents would feel "weird" about crashing on a stranger's couch but booking a quaint and unique little bed and breakfast over the internet makes them feel cool. Conversely, I would feel bad about charging somebody to stay in my disgusting apartment but I'll happily host somebody just passing through.
Re: Subject: Airbnb
#145It just seemed a very good sign to me that these guys were actually on the ground in NYC hunting down (and understanding) their users. That's a funny comment from paul because he was the one to tell them to go to NYC. That they went is to their credit, but still. I think of this sometimes with the pitch coaching for demo day. How many investors think "that's a great way to phrase that" when watching a presentation an…
We were already meeting our users over the previous year, including at the DNC and Inauguration. We had ambivalence to continue to do so city-by-city because, as we were warned by others, it didn't scale. PG gave us permission to continue these efforts, and to "do things that don't scale." It was one of the greatest pieces of advice we ever received.
I talked with one of the founders of Hackruiter (YC S10) last weekend and he told me Paul gave them the same advice! The two founders (or "the Hackruiters" as PG would say) are scheduling days completely full of half-hour 1-on-1 in-person meetings in different cities with people who might be interested in joining a startup. This is one of the most un-scalable processes I can imagine.
By the by, I was very impressed with the founder I talked to (Nick), and I would suggest that if you are a superb developer who is itching to join an existing startup, get in touch with Hackruiter. If they think you are a good fit, they may very well be able to either make the right connections on your behalf or at least point you in the right direction.
Re: Subject: Airbnb
#146Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you're renting out your spare room 70-100% of the time, why don't you just get a roommate? Seems like it would be safer, less work, and you'd ideally have a better long term relationship.
Well, we like meeting new people, we probably would have to charge the roommate less and there are different social obligations for a roommate. (For example a guest that stays for a few days is unlikely to leave a mess in the kitchen). In addition any little annoying habits don't have enough time to become tiresome. Lastly, we can have the room available for our friends and family when they come and visit (which is t…
Seriously, AirBNB should post this comment on the front page of their "List Your Space" page. This is a great value statement.