A fascinating tale of disruption, innovation, and entrepreneurship. It's the kind of book that I wish I had written myself, as it captures the essence of what it takes to create a company that changes the world. Gallagher takes us on a journey from the early days of Airbnb's founding to its rise as a global travel platform, sharing the ups and downs, the successes and failures, and the key lessons learned along the way. This is a must-read for anyone interested in technology, startups, or business strategy. Gallagher has done an excellent job of telling the story of a company that has truly changed the game. ( )

Das Buch behandelt ein wichtiges Thema (Disruption) am Beispiel Airbnb (und der Hotel- bzw. Übernachtungsbranche). Es ist sehr essayistisch geschrieben, gut lesbar und kurzweilig. Für den Einstieg in die Unternehmensgeschichte unbedingt zu empfehlen. Die Passagen zu den drei Gründern und deren jeweilige Charaktere sind spannend und werfen ein eigenes Licht auf die Vorteile sich ergänzender Fähigkeiten und Charaktereigenschaften.
Allerdings fehlt an vielen Stellen eine systematische und tiefer gehende Analyse der zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen, Konzepte und Ideen. So werden zwar z.B. des Öfteren Vergleiche zu ebay gezogen, die "Marktplatz-Idee" aber nirgends vergleichend oder systematisch untersucht.
Insgesamt aber lesens- und empfehlenswert! ( )

Tien jaar geleden (2008) bouwden twee studenten (Brian Chesky en Joe Gebbla) en hun ict-vriend Nathan Blecharczyck een platform met de grootste aanbieder van accomodaties wereldwijd.

Op dit moment is Airbnb circa 30 miljard dollar waard en één van Silicon Valley's startups. Het bedrijf is echter niet zonder controverse: het verstoort de wereldwijde hotelbranche van 500 miljard dollar. In het boek lees je het verhaal van de wetgevers die Airbnb stoppen, de hotelbranche die Airbnb willen elimineren en woonwijken in steden die worstelen met de huizen die te huur worden aangeboden.

De Airbnb Story is het eerste boek dat het complete verhaal vertelt over Airbnb, cultureel fenomeen, hotel disrupter, vijand van regelgevers. En het is de eerste diepgaande profielschets van Brain Chesky, de nieuwsgierige CEO en medeoprichter. Voor iedereen die er ooit over heeft gedacht om zijn woning op Airbnb te verhuren om wat bij te verdienen, die ooit een Airbnb heeft geboekt of wil boeken of die zelf rondloopt met een disruptief idee, is dit boek een absolute must-read.

Periodically I read business books, usually about a specific leader or company that blew through barriers and created something new and innovative. Being an AirBNB fan, I wanted to know more about this industry disrupter organization, especially since I am interested in hosting. Well worth the read, if this stuff interests you to get the ins and outs of AirBNB and to get an inside look at the creativity that drives this company. ( )

Success stories are always appealing. What we now know as Airbnb started in 2004 with Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, two broke industrial and graphic design school graduates. Later their befriended programmer Nathan Blecharczyk joined. The three worked out an idea to rent out air beds and breakfast to make some money. This was the conception of what became Airbnb, now valued at $30 billion and on the eve of entering China.

The boys had the luck of a perfect timing to meet investors. The unique selling points of their business model, two markets where demand and supply are facing each other, a powerful payment system, starting as the Craigslist for rooms, but quickly becoming a disruptive force in hospitality services without owning any of the homes or rooms that are rented out. Leigh Gallagher tells The Airbnb Story in chronological order, and shares from an abundance of background information, memoirs, and interviews. Not only Airbnb is covered, also its main competitors (e.g. Away.com, VRBO.com, couchsurfing.com) and the differences in market approach, products and services offered and the outlook for the near future. Will the traditional hotel chains ultimately take over? Can market entrants or competitors somehow steal and copy the business model? And can Airbnb itself evolve into a successful multiproduct firm with spread risks to survive in the long run?

If Airbnb has disrupted hotels, travel, space, and trust, it's also disrupted conventional management theory. The company's rise is lacking corporate experience with the founders at their start. No MBA, but design school as a foundation. Learn from these three founding fathers of a real game-changer still in charge of this privately owned company. Media are normally running behind the facts: "Where everyone thinks Airbnb is today, is where we were two years ago." The same will apply to this book, updated to the very end of 2016. In 2 years the Airbnb story will have different twists and outcomes. ( )