Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind? Define clear measures of success and a plan to achieve them.

One amazing technology startup case study that comes to mind when it comes to "beginning with the end in mind" is Airbnb.

When Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia first started Airbnb in 2008, they had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve. They were both struggling to pay rent in San Francisco and decided to rent out air mattresses in their apartment to attendees of a design conference in the city. The concept took off, and they realized that they were on to something.

Their ultimate goal was to disrupt the hotel industry by offering a unique and authentic travel experience that could be accessed by anyone, anywhere in the world. They wanted to create a platform that would enable people to list and book accommodations in an easy and hassle-free way.

From the beginning, Chesky and Gebbia were focused on building a community of hosts and guests who shared their values of trust, empathy, and belonging. They knew that if they could create a platform that facilitated meaningful connections between people, they could build a brand that would stand the test of time.

To achieve this goal, they focused on building a product that was easy to use, visually appealing, and offered value to both hosts and guests. They also invested heavily in building a brand that was consistent across all touchpoints, from the website to social media to customer service.

As a result of their focus on the end goal, Airbnb has become one of the most successful startups of all time. They have over 4 million hosts worldwide and have facilitated over 800 million guest arrivals since their founding. Their platform has disrupted the hotel industry and has created a new category of travel that is focused on authentic experiences and human connections.

Airbnb's success can be attributed to their focus on beginning with the end in mind. They had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve and focused on building a product and brand that aligned with that vision. By doing so, they were able to create a platform that has revolutionized the travel industry and has created a lasting impact on the world.

& this is what we truly aspire to achieve at IVCA, as an industry body, we have to work on initiatives that consume lot of time and efforts, multiple stakeholders, and with a clear vision & measurable/achievable impact in the end, it's a win-win for the whole Startup-Investor-Government Ecosystem, similar to the Airbnb story :)

I urge you all to check out the Resources section in the IVCA website to find out how we have also been quietly making a dent in the Universe ;)