StarZero All shows Try the podcast clipper →

Dec 6, 2016 · 24m · top-founders

EP 500: $5M Funding, $1.3M Revenue For LGBT Lifestyle Traveling like AirBNB with CEO Matthieu Jost

Nathan Latka · 10m spoken Matthew Jost · 7m spoken
0:00 / 0:00

gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

In episode 500 of The Top podcast, misterb&b co-founder and CEO Matthieu Jost explains how his LGBTQ+ travel accommodation platform scaled to 80,000 hosts, $7 million in GMV, and $1.3 million in revenue.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Nathan holds 59.4% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Nathan as informed peer 5.3 Guest teaching 1.5 Guest disagreement 0.5 Nathan pushing back 1.2
05100:0010:0020:001:30–4:18 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Matthieu Jost on His First Exit and Early Background Nathan conducts a straightforward biographical inquiry into Matthieu's background, asking about his first company Planet Series, sale price, and team size. The conversation is fully cooperative with no friction.4:19–7:34 · Nathan as informed peer 6/10 Founding misterb&b, Marketplace Mechanics, and Funding When Nathan describes misterb&b simply as 'gay Airbnb', Matthieu gently reframes the definition to highlight community safety and broader LGBT inclusivity. Nathan then digs into marketplace unit economics and take rates.7:35–11:15 · Nathan as informed peer 7/10 Platform Scale, Host Inventory, and Solo Traveler Behavior Matthieu shares that 70% of users travel solo to connect with local queer communities. Nathan demonstrates financial fluency by calculating misterb&b's fee revenue directly from gross transaction volume.11:15–14:34 · Nathan as informed peer 5/10 Advertising Channels, Experiential Marketing, and Retention Matthieu describes additional revenue streams including email marketing and street/event activations at Pride parades. Nathan does quick mental math on list click-through estimates and retention figures.14:36–18:14 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Sponsor Segment: The Top Inbox and HostGator Promotion Nathan pitches sponsors The Top Inbox and HostGator, then runs through rapid-fire questions where he references past guest data from RJMetrics.18:14–18:53 · Nathan as informed peer 6/10 Executive Recap of misterb&b Key Business Metrics Nathan delivers a rapid monologue recapping all core business metrics of misterb&b including revenue, take rates, host count, and capital raised.1:30–4:18 · Guest teaching 1/10 Matthieu Jost on His First Exit and Early Background Nathan conducts a straightforward biographical inquiry into Matthieu's background, asking about his first company Planet Series, sale price, and team size. The conversation is fully cooperative with no friction.4:19–7:34 · Guest teaching 3/10 Founding misterb&b, Marketplace Mechanics, and Funding When Nathan describes misterb&b simply as 'gay Airbnb', Matthieu gently reframes the definition to highlight community safety and broader LGBT inclusivity. Nathan then digs into marketplace unit economics and take rates.7:35–11:15 · Guest teaching 3/10 Platform Scale, Host Inventory, and Solo Traveler Behavior Matthieu shares that 70% of users travel solo to connect with local queer communities. Nathan demonstrates financial fluency by calculating misterb&b's fee revenue directly from gross transaction volume.11:15–14:34 · Guest teaching 2/10 Advertising Channels, Experiential Marketing, and Retention Matthieu describes additional revenue streams including email marketing and street/event activations at Pride parades. Nathan does quick mental math on list click-through estimates and retention figures.14:36–18:14 · Guest teaching 0/10 Sponsor Segment: The Top Inbox and HostGator Promotion Nathan pitches sponsors The Top Inbox and HostGator, then runs through rapid-fire questions where he references past guest data from RJMetrics.18:14–18:53 · Guest teaching 0/10 Executive Recap of misterb&b Key Business Metrics Nathan delivers a rapid monologue recapping all core business metrics of misterb&b including revenue, take rates, host count, and capital raised.1:30–4:18 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Matthieu Jost on His First Exit and Early Background Nathan conducts a straightforward biographical inquiry into Matthieu's background, asking about his first company Planet Series, sale price, and team size. The conversation is fully cooperative with no friction.4:19–7:34 · Guest disagreement 2/10 Founding misterb&b, Marketplace Mechanics, and Funding When Nathan describes misterb&b simply as 'gay Airbnb', Matthieu gently reframes the definition to highlight community safety and broader LGBT inclusivity. Nathan then digs into marketplace unit economics and take rates.7:35–11:15 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Platform Scale, Host Inventory, and Solo Traveler Behavior Matthieu shares that 70% of users travel solo to connect with local queer communities. Nathan demonstrates financial fluency by calculating misterb&b's fee revenue directly from gross transaction volume.11:15–14:34 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Advertising Channels, Experiential Marketing, and Retention Matthieu describes additional revenue streams including email marketing and street/event activations at Pride parades. Nathan does quick mental math on list click-through estimates and retention figures.14:36–18:14 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Sponsor Segment: The Top Inbox and HostGator Promotion Nathan pitches sponsors The Top Inbox and HostGator, then runs through rapid-fire questions where he references past guest data from RJMetrics.18:14–18:53 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Executive Recap of misterb&b Key Business Metrics Nathan delivers a rapid monologue recapping all core business metrics of misterb&b including revenue, take rates, host count, and capital raised.1:30–4:18 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Matthieu Jost on His First Exit and Early Background Nathan conducts a straightforward biographical inquiry into Matthieu's background, asking about his first company Planet Series, sale price, and team size. The conversation is fully cooperative with no friction.4:19–7:34 · Nathan pushing back 2/10 Founding misterb&b, Marketplace Mechanics, and Funding When Nathan describes misterb&b simply as 'gay Airbnb', Matthieu gently reframes the definition to highlight community safety and broader LGBT inclusivity. Nathan then digs into marketplace unit economics and take rates.7:35–11:15 · Nathan pushing back 2/10 Platform Scale, Host Inventory, and Solo Traveler Behavior Matthieu shares that 70% of users travel solo to connect with local queer communities. Nathan demonstrates financial fluency by calculating misterb&b's fee revenue directly from gross transaction volume.11:15–14:34 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Advertising Channels, Experiential Marketing, and Retention Matthieu describes additional revenue streams including email marketing and street/event activations at Pride parades. Nathan does quick mental math on list click-through estimates and retention figures.14:36–18:14 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Sponsor Segment: The Top Inbox and HostGator Promotion Nathan pitches sponsors The Top Inbox and HostGator, then runs through rapid-fire questions where he references past guest data from RJMetrics.18:14–18:53 · Nathan pushing back 0/10 Executive Recap of misterb&b Key Business Metrics Nathan delivers a rapid monologue recapping all core business metrics of misterb&b including revenue, take rates, host count, and capital raised.

speaking balance: gold is Nathan, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Nathan 76.6% · guest 23.4%0:00 · Nathan 76.6% · guest 23.4%3:00 · Nathan 35.7% · guest 64.3%3:00 · Nathan 35.7% · guest 64.3%6:00 · Nathan 45.2% · guest 54.8%6:00 · Nathan 45.2% · guest 54.8%9:00 · Nathan 38.5% · guest 61.5%9:00 · Nathan 38.5% · guest 61.5%12:00 · Nathan 45.2% · guest 54.8%12:00 · Nathan 45.2% · guest 54.8%15:00 · Nathan 87.2% · guest 12.8%15:00 · Nathan 87.2% · guest 12.8%18:00 · Nathan 96.8% · guest 3.2%18:00 · Nathan 96.8% · guest 3.2%21:00 · Nathan 0% · guest 0%21:00 · Nathan 0% · guest 0%24:00 · Nathan 0% · guest 0%24:00 · Nathan 0% · guest 0%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 4:34 Refining the 'gay Airbnb' label

Matthieu pushes back slightly on Nathan's shorthand label of 'gay Airbnb', clarifying the company's broader positioning as a safe travel network for the LGBTQA community.

 Hardest push from Nathan ▶ 10:14 Nathan presses on revenue calculation formula

Nathan interrupts to verify exactly how gross booking volume translates into net revenue using the 16% total take rate.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 8:22 Solo travel demographics and shared apartment demand

Matthieu educates Nathan on why 70% of users travel solo and choose shared rooms to avoid isolation and connect directly with local LGBT hosts.

 Nathan holds their own ▶ 10:14 Live transaction fee calculation

Nathan demonstrates marketplace math expertise by converting $3M in 2015 transaction volume into $480K in transaction fees before factoring in ad revenue.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicNathan as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementNathan pushing backWhy
Matthieu Jost on His First Exit and Early Background 4101 Nathan conducts a straightforward biographical inquiry into Matthieu's background, asking about his first company Planet Series, sale price, and team size. The conversation is fully cooperative with no friction.
Founding misterb&b, Marketplace Mechanics, and Funding 6322 When Nathan describes misterb&b simply as 'gay Airbnb', Matthieu gently reframes the definition to highlight community safety and broader LGBT inclusivity. Nathan then digs into marketplace unit economics and take rates.
Platform Scale, Host Inventory, and Solo Traveler Behavior 7312 Matthieu shares that 70% of users travel solo to connect with local queer communities. Nathan demonstrates financial fluency by calculating misterb&b's fee revenue directly from gross transaction volume.
Advertising Channels, Experiential Marketing, and Retention 5201 Matthieu describes additional revenue streams including email marketing and street/event activations at Pride parades. Nathan does quick mental math on list click-through estimates and retention figures.
Sponsor Segment: The Top Inbox and HostGator Promotion 4001 Nathan pitches sponsors The Top Inbox and HostGator, then runs through rapid-fire questions where he references past guest data from RJMetrics.
Executive Recap of misterb&b Key Business Metrics 6000 Nathan delivers a rapid monologue recapping all core business metrics of misterb&b including revenue, take rates, host count, and capital raised.

Statements from this episode (13)

Assertion Supported
Jost: Planet Series was Europe's largest TV site and sold to AlloCiné
“So it was a website dedicated to TV series, and it was the largest website to TV series in Europe, and I sold it to the French equivalent of IMDB, which called Allocine.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 1:59
Assertion Not publicly verifiable
Jost: Planet Series was acquired for approximately $1 million
“At that stage, it was like a one million of dollars.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 2:23
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jost says misterb&b is the world's largest gay hotelier across 135 countries
“We are the largest gay hotelier in the world, and we are giving the opportunity to our community to connect together in 135 countries around the world, and to travel safe without any discrimination.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 4:41
Disclosure
Jost: misterb&b charges 4% host fees and 12% traveler fees per transaction
“We are taking four percent on the host side and 12% on the travel side.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 6:11
Disclosure
Jost: misterb&b's average booking is 3 nights and costs around $300
“The average booking, it's the three three nights, so it's around 300 dollars.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 6:26
Disclosure
Jost: misterb&b has raised $5 million USD in total capital
“In total, we raised five millions of dollar USD.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 7:01
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jost: misterb&b has around 80,000 hosts across 135 countries
“So today we have around 80,000 hosts over 135 countries that listed their place on the website.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 7:44
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jost leaks undisclosed metric: misterb&b generates 3,000 monthly bookings
“And so we are not communicating on this number, but we have around 3000 bookings per month today.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 8:01
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jost: 70% of misterb&b users travel solo and book shared apartments
“That's why that 70% of our users are traveling alone and are booking mostly shared apartment on the website.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 8:57
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jost: misterb&b Processed Around $3M in Bookings in 2015
“In 2015, we were around three million.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 9:35
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Jost: misterb&b Targets $1.3M in Revenue for 2016
“Yes, we plan to do 1.3 million in the growth in revenue this year.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 11:11
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jost: misterb&b has around 300,000 email list subscribers
“Right now we have around 300 K people on the email list.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 12:05
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Jost: 40% of misterb&b's business comes from repeat customers
“And today 40% of our business is coming from repeaters, meaning that people really love the websites.”
Matthew Jost Dec 6, 2016 ▶ 13:43
Made with StarZero

Turn any episode into a week of clips.

This entire site, over 2,600 episodes transcribed, diarized, checked and made playable, runs on the StarZero media pipeline. Drop in your own episode and the podcast clipper finds the moments worth sharing, cuts them, captions them, and reframes them for every feed.

Try the podcast clipper Learn more