I froze for a second because my whole prep was software-side.
Start by clarifying the goal of the physical product—whether it's to enhance the guest experience, streamline host operations, or drive revenue—and then segment users to identify a high-impact problem. Brainstorm a few product ideas, prioritize one, and flesh out its features, business model, and success metrics, while considering Airbnb's brand and ecosystem.
Pro tip: Anchor your product in Airbnb's core value proposition of belonging and trust, and show how it leverages existing assets like the host community or platform data to create a defensible moat.
Ask clarifying questions to understand the goal (e.g., increase bookings, improve host-guest interaction) and constraints (budget, timeline, target market).
Choose a key user segment (e.g., frequent travelers, hosts) and pinpoint a significant pain point or unmet need in the Airbnb experience that a physical product could address.
Brainstorm multiple physical product ideas, then select one based on impact, feasibility, and alignment with Airbnb's brand; briefly justify why you discarded others.
Describe the product's key features, how it integrates with the Airbnb platform (e.g., app connectivity), and the overall user journey from discovery to usage.
Explain how the product would be monetized (e.g., sold to hosts, bundled with bookings) and define success metrics (e.g., adoption rate, guest satisfaction, incremental revenue).
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.