logo
episode-header-image
Jun 1
1h 46m

#473 - VO - Brian Chesky - Airbnb - « We...

Matthieu Stefani | Orso Media
About this episode

Retrouvez l'épisode en version française ici : https://www.gdiy.fr/podcast/brian-chesky-vf/

Airbnb is bigger than any hotel chains around the world.

80+ billion turnover in 2024—more than 2.5 billion stays since the beginning.

The figures are mindblowing, it’s probably the fastest growing tech platform in the tourism industry, it has changed lives all around the world, especially in France.

What began as a scrappy side gig has become so much more than a company: it’s a whole new way to explore the world.

And yet, back in 2007, Brian Chesky’s “grand vision” was born simply because he couldn’t cover his San Francisco rent.

The story is now legendary: a sold-out design conference, travelers crammed into town, and a friend’s inflatable mattress sparking a lightbulb moment—to offer a cheaper night than any hotel. AirBed & Breakfast was born.

Over the next decade and a half, those humble airbeds turned into spare bedrooms, then entire homes—until the small startup backed by Y Combinator became a global phenomenon.

Today, the company that flipped lodging on its head isn’t stopping at homes: with “from couch to castle” as its rallying cry, Airbnb is pivoting into services and experiences, on its way to becoming the ultimate all-in-one travel “super app.”

In this unmissable episode, Brian Chesky pulls back the curtain on two decades of explosive growth—while never losing sight of his “founder mode.”

You’ll hear:

  • Brian’s top hacks for turning a profit on Airbnb
  • How Airbnb’s strategic pivot layers in everything from private chefs to hair stylists
  • Building a platform people will use in unexpected ways
  • Why AI will upend the way we interact with every app
  • The two bold bets that catapulted Airbnb to global domination

Whether you’re curious about the past, excited for the future of travel tech, or just want to pick the brain of a true Silicon Valley OG, this episode of GDIY is a can’t-miss.

TIMELINE:

  • 00:00:00 : From the original “airbeds” to the billion dollar company
  • 00:11:31 : The best tips to earn a fortune as a host on Airbnb
  • 00:19:38 : The largest demographic spectrum : from couch to castles
  • 00:28:26 : How to create a platform that enables creativity and the new “experience” feature
  • 00:43:04 : $80 billions transactions... in 2024 only
  • 00:49:49 : The right way to use Airbnb as a guest and as a host
  • 01:09:11 : The secret to maintain core values in your company
  • 01:21:08 : How to stay close to co-founders and employees
  • 01:28:41 : What will be the impact of AI on our professional and personal lives
  • 01:37:38 : The two bets/truths that made Airbnb so successful

We referred to previous GDIY episodes :


A few recent episodes in English :

We spoke about :

Reading Recommendations :

You can contact Brian on Linkedin and Instagram.

Interested in sponsoring Generation Do It Yourself or proposing a partnership ? Contact my label Orso Media through this form.

Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Up next
Jul 6
#479 - Nikola Karabatic - Champion de Handball - 22 titres sur 23 : la légende du sport français
Sur ses 23 championnats, il en a gagné 22. Nikola Karabatic est probablement le sportif français le plus consistant.Mais il y a un prix à payer : dans cet épisode, il se livre sur ses batailles mentales et les difficultés pour atteindre le sommet.Issu d’une famille de sportifs d’ ... Show More
2h 35m
Jul 6
[EXTRAIT] Nikola Karabatic - Maîtriser ses émotions pour être plus performant
Pour écouter l'épisode en entier, tapez "#479 - Nikola Karabatic - Champion de Handball - 22 titres sur 23 : la légende du sport français" sur votre plateforme d'écoute.Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations. 
15m 57s
Jul 2
[REDIFF] Virginie Guyot - Patrouille de France - Débriefer pour atteindre l’excellence
Si vous pensiez, ne serait-ce qu’une seule seconde, passer cet épisode, vous feriez une ÉNORME erreur. Vraiment. Cet épisode, c’est un vol en rafale. Une plongée dans l’armée de l’air avec tout ce que cela peut nous apporter à nous, en tant qu’humain, que salarié ou que dirigeant ... Show More
2h 52m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Scaling Airbnb, Founder Mode, and What’s Next for Travel — with Brian Chesky
Brian Chesky, the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, joins Scott to discuss the latest for Airbnb including their Co-Host Network, how the company views AI, and how it is a leading indicator for the broader economy. Brian also shares his thoughts on his viral moment around Founder Mod ... Show More
59m 29s
Jul 2024
Pattern Breakers: How to find a breakthrough startup idea | Mike Maples, Jr. (Founding Partner at Floodgate, ex-Product at Silicon Graphics)
Mike Maples, Jr. is a legendary early-stage startup investor and a co-founder and partner at Floodgate. He’s made early bets on transformative companies like Twitter, Lyft, Twitch, Okta, Rappi, and Applied Intuition and is one of the pioneers of seed-stage investing as a category ... Show More
1h 49m
Aug 2024
Lessons from scaling Uber and Opendoor | Brian Tolkin (Head of Product at Opendoor, ex-Uber)
Brian Tolkin is the Head of Product at Opendoor. Previously, he was one of the early employees at Uber, where he was instrumental in launching and growing UberPool, UberHop, and UberExpress and started one of the first product operations teams in tech. In our conversation, we div ... Show More
1h 14m
Jan 2025
How to break out of autopilot and create the life you want | Graham Weaver (Stanford GSB professor, founder of Alpine Investors)
Graham Weaver teaches a top-rated course at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB), where he often unexpectedly ends up helping students figure out what to do with their lives. He is also the founder and CEO of Alpine Investors, a people-driven private equity firm. In our c ... Show More
1h 12m
Feb 2024
Danny Meyer - The Power of Hospitality - [Invest Like the Best, REPLAY]
Today, we're replaying my conversation with Danny Meyer. He is the founder and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, which comprises some of the most acclaimed restaurants in New York, like Gramercy Tavern and Union Square Café. Danny is also the founder and chairman of Shake Sh ... Show More
50m 17s
Apr 28
#295 - Inventer le job de ses rêves avec Bruno Maltor
Vous avez déjà imaginé transformer votre passion du voyage en véritable métier ? C’est le parcours qu’a choisi Bruno Maltor : il y a 10 ans, peu de personnes croyaient qu’être créateur de contenu voyage (blogueur, YouTubeur, influenceur) pouvait être un métier durable. Aujourd’hu ... Show More
1h 20m
Sep 2024
The Mark Zuckerberg Interview
Mark is the iconic founder CEO of our time. At Chase Center on September 10, 2024, he did an unprecedented thing: a live conversation in front of 6,000 people on Meta’s company strategy, sharing stories from early Facebook history, and his thoughts on the future of AI, VR, and AR ... Show More
1h 27m
Mar 2025
Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (CEO and co-founder)
Anton Osika is the co-founder and CEO of Lovable, which is building what they call “the last piece of software”—an AI-powered tool that turns descriptions into working products without requiring any coding knowledge. Since launching three months ago, Lovable hit $4 million ARR in ... Show More
1h 9m
Jul 3
I’ve run 75+ businesses. Here’s why you’re probably chasing the wrong idea. | Andrew Wilkinson (co‑founder of Tiny)
Andrew Wilkinson is the co‑founder of Tiny, a holding company that quietly owns more than three dozen profitable internet and consumer brands, including Dribbble and the AeroPress coffee maker. Starting as a teenage barista and web designer, he’s created a portfolio approaching $ ... Show More
1h 28m
Oct 2023
Patrick Pichette, Partner d'Inovia Capital
Originaire d’un quartier populaire de Montréal, Patrick Pichette a su conquérir la Silicon Valley en devenant l’un des piliers du géant Google.  Diplômé de l’Université d’Oxford, qu’il a intégrée grâce à la bourse Rhodes, ce véritable bourreau de travail est passé par McKinsey et ... Show More
1h 5m