Brian Chesky — The decisions behind Airbnb

From three air mattresses in a flat to a global marketplace. Which decisions made the difference?

Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia started with a simple idea: letting visitors stay overnight in their San Francisco flat for a short time. Nathan Blecharczyk joined later. What began as a small experiment to cover the rent grew into Airbnb: a global platform that profoundly changed the way people book accommodation.

But behind that success lies a far more complicated story.

In this independent FOREFACT publication you discover how Brian Chesky and his co-founders welcomed their first guests, dealt with disappointing bookings, won over investors and built an international marketplace centred on trust between strangers.

It doesn’t only cover the successes. It also examines the financial problems, credit card debt, difficult choices about safety and regulation, the coronavirus crisis and the role of other people involved.

From story to practice

This is more than a founder biography. As you read, you are challenged to make decisions yourself. In six in-depth Decision Labs you learn, among other things, how to research real customer demand, build a marketplace with providers and customers, organise trust, model financial crisis scenarios and critically assess business growth figures.

What do you get?

• 40 pages with the full founder story.

• Eight chronological chapters on how Airbnb developed.

• Six Decision Labs with business theory and worked examples.

• Six digitally fillable worksheets with 24 answer fields in total.

• Financial calculations, decision questions and a historical timeline.

• A six-week Reality Test to apply the lessons yourself.

• 30 source references for further reading and verification.

Who is this guide for?

For curious readers, future entrepreneurs and anyone who wants to understand how a small idea can grow into an international technology company. Also of interest if you want to learn more about startups, platform businesses, customer trust, financing, leadership and business growth.

You don’t just read how Airbnb grew. You examine which decisions, risks and lessons you can apply yourself.

Digital product · 40 pages · PDF · Available immediately after purchase

This publication was developed independently by FOREFACT and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, Nathan Blecharczyk or Airbnb.