The messy, rewarding world of building marketplaces (from an ex-Airbnb PM)
Original: Four Questions Every Marketplace Startup Should Be Able to Answer
Summary
Jonathan Golden explains how transaction value × frequency predicts viability.
Who This Is For
Product Managers
Founders
Business Analysts
Key Takeaways
- Map your marketplace by transaction size and frequency to predict unit economics and positioning
- Understand the four critical marketplace factors: network effects, supply type, incentives, and interaction patterns
- Distinguish between search marketplaces (Airbnb-style) and matching marketplaces (Uber-style) to design appropriate user experiences
- Leverage global vs local network effects to determine your expansion strategy and competitive moats
- Use the framework to evaluate whether a marketplace model fits your problem or if controlling supply makes more sense
Tools & Technologies
Airbnb Uber Dropbox
Topics Covered
marketplaces liquidity unit-economics pricing
Ready to dive deeper?
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