--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Starting a company in San Francisco when…" description: "\"Starting a company in San Francisco when we did usually meant it was destined to be a data-driven tech company. But that didn't seem to fully encompass..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/joe-gebbia-7830_business_starting-a-company-in-san-francisco-when_354499.jpg" --- # Starting a company in San Francisco when we did usually… ![“Starting a company in San Francisco when we did usually meant it was destined to be a data-driven tech company. But that didn't seem to fully encompass what we wanted with Airbnb. When we tried looking through a tech lens, it didn't work. The humanity was missing.” quote by Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/joe-gebbia-7830_business_starting-a-company-in-san-francisco-when_354499.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/joe-gebbia-7830_business_starting-a-company-in-san-francisco-when_354499.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/joe-gebbia-7830_business_starting-a-company-in-san-francisco-when_354499.jpg) > “Starting a company in San Francisco when we did usually meant it was destined to be a data-driven tech company. But that didn't seem to fully encompass what we wanted with Airbnb. When we tried looking through a tech lens, it didn't work. The humanity was missing.” [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tech focus can overlook the essential human element, limiting a company's true purpose and connection. **In simple terms:** Tech alone isn’t enough. Key Takeaway Balance tech with humanity. Themes innovation humanity business strategy Mood inspirational thoughtful Type business leadership When to use this quote - startup launch - product development - team building - customer experience Key Concepts design thinking company culture Questions to Reflect On - How can you embed empathy in tech products? - What human needs are ignored by data? A Different Perspective Tech may dominate decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [San francisco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/san-francisco/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“I wouldn’t be the first person in Silicon Valley history to interview at a company at which I didn’t really want a job, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-garcia-martinez/i-wouldn-t-be-the-first-person-in-silicon-valley-history-to-interview/) [Antonio Garcia Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-garcia-martinez/) > [The record company didn't know what we looked like at first. 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It’s about seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tory-burch/being-an-entrepreneur-isn-t-just-a-job-title-and-it-isn-t-just-about/) [Tory Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tory-burch/) ## More by Joe Gebbia > [We're a community-driven brand, but at the same time, we want every host in every home to recognize that they're all individuals, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/we-re-a-community-driven-brand-but-at-the-same-time-we-want-every/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [Airbnb was born out of necessarity. Our rent went up. It was born out of a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/airbnb-was-born-out-of-necessarity-our-rent-went-up-it-was-born-out/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [There's no reason any company should be limited by its physical environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/there-s-no-reason-any-company-should-be-limited-by-its-physical/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [We expect Seoul to be one of our most important markets not only in Asia but around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/we-expect-seoul-to-be-one-of-our-most-important-markets-not-only-in/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [What we're doing with Airbnb feels like the nexus of everything that is right. 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Cities shrank, the suburbs got bigger - and the notion of community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/in-the-post-war-united-states-you-had-this-race-to-the-suburbs-cities/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [Scheduled shipping is one of many inventions that has made New York a global capital of innovation and creativity - from Willis Carrier's invention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/scheduled-shipping-is-one-of-many-inventions-that-has-made-new-york-a/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [I often stay in Tokyo's Daikanyama neighbourhood. You can go for a peaceful morning run along the Meguro river, and it is particularly incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/i-often-stay-in-tokyo-s-daikanyama-neighbourhood-you-can-go-for-a/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [Ultimately, the power of the Airbnb platform is that it motivates guests to blend into communities, belong anywhere, and live like locals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/ultimately-the-power-of-the-airbnb-platform-is-that-it-motivates/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [As our company has grown, how we configure and design our offices has been a crucial part of how we foster connection and collaboration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/as-our-company-has-grown-how-we-configure-and-design-our-offices-has/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [What people demand is what the policies serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/what-people-demand-is-what-the-policies-serve/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) [Explore all 87 Joe Gebbia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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