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Atmrix

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Atmrix

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DC

Dalton Caldwell

01/20/22

@ Y Combinator

The existing platforms like VRBO and Craigslist failed to facilitate payments, creating friction in transactions between hosts and guests.

Video

YC

Where Do Great Startup Ideas Come From? – Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel

@ Y Combinator

Where Do Great Startup Ideas Come From? – Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel

01/20/22

Related Takeaways

DC

Dalton Caldwell

01/20/22

@ Y Combinator

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

DC

Dalton Caldwell

01/20/22

@ Y Combinator

VRBO charged hosts to list their properties, which hindered their ability to attract a large inventory of listings, a critical factor for success in the market.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

05/25/24

@ Y Combinator

The emergence of platforms like Airbnb has transformed the hospitality industry, allowing individuals to monetize their properties without traditional barriers.

DC

Dalton Caldwell

01/20/22

@ Y Combinator

Airbnb was not the first to market; it faced established competitors like VRBO and Couchsurfing, which had significant user bases and brand recognition.

NB

Nate Blecharczyk

10/26/13

@ Y Combinator

Brian had a great experience staying at an Airbnb during the event, but there was a payment issue that made us realize the importance of handling transactions upfront.

DC

Dalton Caldwell

01/20/22

@ Y Combinator

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

DC

Dalton Caldwell

01/20/22

@ Y Combinator

The rise of Airbnb coincided with the economic downturn, prompting many individuals to seek ways to monetize their properties for extra income.

ac

a16z crypto Cast

05/24/25

@ a16z crypto

The internet has effectively removed intermediaries in many sectors, but the payments and finance sectors remain dominated by traditional systems like Visa, which extract significant fees.

AB

Andy Bromberg

09/15/18

@ Y Combinator

Airbnb is not a suitable candidate for a token model because it relies on trust in a central intermediary, which contradicts the need for a decentralized trustless system.