4 ms·
The interesting thing is how he says "Airbnb, for example, sounds like a crazy idea" - when I heard about it I did not think about it as a "crazy idea". It soun
by tlogan 14y ago
The interesting thing is how he says "Airbnb, for example, sounds like a crazy idea" - when I heard about it I did not think about it as a "crazy idea". It sounded as a great idea - but hard to execute (hotels, regulations, fraud control, etc.).
But they were not doing one more social network, so it had to sound as a "crazy idea" for any VC.
It seems definition of "crazy idea" for VCs is "not doing the same thing as other startups are doing".
- Tichy 14y agoI don't get it even now - weren't there already b&b sites before AirB&B? So what's so crazy - the air part, which they threw out anyway?
- true_religion 14y agoThe crazy part was renting out an airbed in your livingroom.
- Tichy 14y agoWhich isn't really their business model now, or is it? That's all just a hype PR story.
- true_religion 14y agoNope, but when they started their business model was literally "hey we can sell airbeds in livingroom as an alternative to regular Bed and Breakfasts, and hotels for sold out concerts, shows, and events". They just pivoted to something more traditional after spending 1-2 years trying to make the original idea work.
- JoelMarsh 14y agoHate being a buzzkill, but that is precisely what couchsurfers was before AirBnB.