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Re:The Billion-Dollar Startup That Almost Never Was by npollock on Monday June 27, 2011 @02:39PM (#2702447)
Any startup that relies on the network effect to provide value is a daunting challenge. Your product can be amazing, but without the right user acquisition strategy, you'll be left spinning your wheels. Kudos to the AirBNB team for having the vision and determination not to quit.
Re:The Billion-Dollar Startup That Almost Never Was by brandnewlow on Monday June 27, 2011 @03:18PM (#2702588)
Unfortunately, the article never explains what that strategy was. "Getting into YCombinator" is posited as the solution to their problems, yet "getting into YCombinator" is not a user acquisition strategy.
Re:The Billion-Dollar Startup That Almost Never Was by VladRussian on Monday June 27, 2011 @04:08PM (#2702803)
>the article never explains what that strategy was.

if memory serves me right it was already discussed here. Just google "airbnb craigslist spam". They admitted it themselves :

http://venturebeat.com/2011/06/02/airbnb-admits-gaming-craig...