Latest / Startup Stories with Fexingo: Conversations About Founders, Funding, and Building Companies from Zero
How Airbnb Rebuilt Trust After a Crisis
In early 2020, Airbnb faced an existential moment: the pandemic wiped out 80% of its bookings in weeks. But rather than slash costs blindly, CEO Brian Chesky made a series of counterintuitive decisions that transformed the company. This episode unpacks how Airbnb redesigned its search algorithm to favor long-term stays, refunded guests with $250 million out of pocket, and rebuilt its entire product around a new category — local travel. We track the data: by mid-2021, average stay length doubled, and the company reached its most profitable quarter ever. Lucas and Luna explore how a platform…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.