Brian Chesky

Brian Chesky

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 gave way to 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.

A few recent episodes in English :

• #452 – Reid Hoffman – LinkedIn, Paypal – “We are more Homo technicus than Homo sapiens”

• #437 – James Dyson – Dyson – “Failure is more exciting than success”

• #431 – Sean Rad – Tinder – How the swipe fever took over the world

We spoke about :