How Joe Gebbia Transformed Airbnb from Failing Startup to $85 Billion / Year Business

Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb and Samara, speaks at the Tony Robbins Business Mastery seminar. His creative vision has transformed the travel industry and connected millions of people across cultures. Apply for Business Mastery: In 2008, the necessity to pay rent sparked the birth of Airbnb with his co-founders, Brian Chesky and Nathan Blecharczyk. What began as a modest setup of three airbeds, a pop-tart breakfast, and local insights has evolved into a global phenomenon -- revolutionizing hospitality, human connectivity, and economic stimulation. Today, Airbnb boasts nearly 7 million listings in over 220 countries and regions, reshaping the way people interact globally. Joe’s latest venture, Samara, comparably cemented in economic empowerment, housing resources, and design, produces fully customized, factory-made homes designed for rental income, a place to house family, work from home, or pursue an interest. Each home is equipped with rooftop solar panels that generate more electricity than they use. Joe has spoken globally about both entrepreneurship and design and received numerous distinctions such as the Inc 30 under 30, and speaking at TED, Wired, and Fast Company. He loves to find opportunities to give back on the local and global level and has joined the Giving Pledge to commit more than half of his wealth to philanthropy. He contributes his time via other board seats at Airbnb, , and Tesla. Joe’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, illustrating why every rejection serves as an invitation to persist. He transformed a struggling concept into a global powerhouse by delivering unforgettable experiences to customers, and he continues to innovate. This conversation is a must for all entrepreneurs! *** Apply for Business Mastery: 00:00:00 Tony’s Intro 00:01:10 Airbnb’s humble beginnings 00:01:35 Airbnb’s exponential growth 00:02:30 Relocating to Silicon Valley / chasing the entrepreneurial dreams 00:05:02 From simple idea to groundbreaking concept 00:08:01 Initial challenges and rejection 00:09:19 Build trust through personalized experiences 00:10:00 How photography enhanced user experience 00:12:00 Double revenue through customer-centric improvements 00:14:18 Effects of word-of-mouth marketing 00:17:04 Creative capital-raising strategies at the DNC 00:19:01 Creative funding through credit cards and themed cereal boxes 00:19:01 Overcoming investor rejection with Visa, MasterCard, and AMX rounds 00:20:40 The 2 a.m. kitchen idea 00:22:02 Limited edition Obama O’s at $40/box 00:24:41 $20,000 generated to pay off debts 00:28:01 Designing trust through profiles, payments, and reviews 00:29:31 Importance of finding complementary co-founders 00:33:09 Resilience during the COVID-19/ losing 80% of business 00:35:16 Support programs for hosts during pandemic crisis 00:35:25 Creation of to house frontline workers 00:35:33 Financial measures taken/ $2 billion in loans 00:36:23 Alumni directory to aid in job searches 00:37:34 Launch of “Go Near“ campaign to promote domestic stays 00:37:58 Adapting to changing travel behaviors with flexible bookings 00:38:04 Redesign of interface to align with new travel patterns 00:38:24 Successful IPO in December 2020 00:40:33 Innovative housing solutions with ADUs 00:45:06 Ocean Cleanup Project 00:47:28 Providing housing for refugees in times of crisis 00:50:56 The seven-star experience principle 00:51:56 Balancing financial success with a sense of social responsibility 00:53:34 The importance of patience and urgency 00:54:51 Design company culture with intention 00:55:34 Know your competitors well 00:59:06 Embrace doing things that don’t scale in early stages 01:02:02 Aim for “Ramen profitable“ status for financial freedom 01:03:31 Transform small businesses into global brands 01:04:39 Tony sign’s off Watch more videos like this 👇 From US Immigrant to Billion-Dollar Entrepreneur: FIND YOUR FLOW! Lululemon’s Founder on Building A Billion Dollar Brand: Is Wealth More than Money?: Follow Tony Robbins: Facebook: Instagram: TikTok: @tonyrobbins Twitter: LinkedIn: Website: Tony Robbins is a #1 New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the nation’s #1 Life and Business Strategist. For more than four and a half decades, more than 100 million people from 195 countries have enjoyed the warmth, humor, and transformational power of his business and personal development events.