Part 7/10:

The Impact of Airbnb Rejection

However, the tide began to turn when Rocket Internet faced a significant challenge from Airbnb. Their clone, Wimdu, appeared to be making headway but ultimately faltered. When Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky visited Berlin to discuss a buyout, he discovered little more than a cash-burning machine, complete with dubious strategies to lure users. Rejecting the deal, Chesky famously labeled Rocket Internet a "scam," citing a troubling corporate culture driven by profit motives rather than genuine innovation.