Lenny's Podcast · Nov 9Marketplace lessons from Uber, Airbnb, Bumble, and more | Ramesh Johari (Stanford professor)
It began by solving one narrow pain, paying sitters by credit card, then used Facebook networks for trusted introductions. Only after reaching liquidity did it charge for finding and contacting sitters, by pay-as-you-go or subscription.
Tips
- Don't call yourself a marketplace until both sides have scaled liquidity▶ 22:24Uber used coupons for free rides at events and parties to turn a subsidized driver base into rider demand.
- Start with a concrete value proposition that works without liquidity▶ 14:41UrbanSitter started by accepting credit cards for babysitting, then used Facebook networks for trusted introductions, then charged for finding and contacting sitters.
