Beyond Features: Why Stories Drive Startup Growth
Air mattresses in SF led to Airbnb's $100B valuation, proving compelling origin stories can become powerful assets for startups. Storytelling drives growth, not just features.
It started with an air mattress on the floor of a San Francisco apartment. When Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia couldn’t afford their rent in 2007, they purchased three air mattresses and created a simple WordPress website called “Air Bed & Breakfast,” renting the mattresses during a design conference when the hotels were sold out. That isn’t just the origin story of a company that would eventually be valued at over $100 billion. It’s a perfect example of how a compelling origin story can become a powerful asset. The most successful startups aren’t just building products; they’re telling stories t...