We built a network of photographers to improve the quality of listings, recognizing that high-quality photos could significantly enhance the attractiveness of properties on Airbnb.

Airbnb helped their hosts improve their property photos, even at a loss, because they empathized with their users' needs and built trust through genuine care.

Airbnb's founders exemplified the principle of doing things that don't scale by personally taking high-quality photos of listings to attract users and get their business off the ground.

The initial idea for Airbnb was to enhance the entire travel experience, not just provide a place to stay, by considering services like airport pickups and breakfast. We always intended to understand the operation of Airbnb from the inside out, including the timing and logistics of photographing apartments.

We now have tens of thousands of photographers worldwide who provide a free service for hosts to get professional photos of their listings within two days.

Airbnb's growth was significantly driven by founders engaging in customer support, which helped them understand user needs and improve their service.

The idea for Airbnb originated when my co-founders, Joe and Brian, decided to rent out their apartment to designers attending a conference, leading to the realization of a larger opportunity.

Airbnb's founders realized the importance of facilitating payments after a personal experience highlighted the need for a secure transaction process.

Airbnb's founders initially launched the service to solve their own financial problem of making rent during a major conference in San Francisco.