Latest news with #JohannesReck
Bloomberg
9 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Bloomberg Daybreak: Europe 06/27/2025
Bloomberg Daybreak Europe is your essential morning viewing to stay ahead. Live from London, we set the agenda for your day, catching you up with overnight markets news from the US and Asia. And we'll tell you what matters for investors in Europe, giving you insight before trading begins. Today's guest: Johannes Reck, GetYourGuide, Co-Founder & CEO (Source: Bloomberg)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A SoftBank-backed founder says startups and public companies need 'fundamentally different people'
Johannes Reck is the founder and CEO of GetYourGuide, a SoftBank-backed travel startup. Reck said startups and public companies need "fundamentally different people." He said people who are "incredible effective" at Meta or Google may not thrive in a startup. Johannes Reck, the founder and CEO of the SoftBank-backed travel startup GetYourGuide, says a different type of person will flourish in a startup versus a public company. "I think you need fundamentally different people for a Series A to Series C, D stage company than for a pre-IPO or public company with billions in revenue," Reck told the 20VC podcast host Harry Stebbings in an interview that aired Monday. "People who are incredibly effective at Netflix or Meta or Google or even GetYourGuide today are not the type of people who really thrive with a 30 or 50 people company, where you still need to continue to refine that core product market fit," Reck added. Reck founded GetYourGuide in 2009 while he was in college. Today, the company offers curated experiences for travelers in 12,000 cities. The company has raised over $1 billion from investors, including KKR and Softbank, according to Pitchbook. The company, which is headquartered in Berlin, employs more than 500 people, per LinkedIn. A representative for Reck did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. The type of work you'll encounter in startups is also different from the type of work at established companies, Reck said. "You need to ship stuff. You need to be really opinionated about what's going on," Reck said of running a startup in its early stages. In contrast, working at a mature company is about "managing multiple teams, managing organizations, doing roadmaps and creating more structure in the organization," Reck said. "Those are just fundamentally different skill sets and typically, also different types of people," he said. "You need to have these very entrepreneurial people in the early days, who often times by the way, don't work out in the late days," Reck added. Reck's take on the type of talent companies need to hire at various growth stages echoes a point Aravind Srinivas, the founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, previously told the Stanford Graduate School of Business. "You don't have to hire the former head of growth at Instagram to be the head of growth or head of product at Perplexity. That's a trap that a lot of people fall into," Srinivas said. Srinivas said he thinks this is because "it's very hard to be extremely motivated to do gruelling hours when you've already had big success in your life." Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
A SoftBank-backed founder says startups and public companies need 'fundamentally different people'
Johannes Reck is the founder and CEO of GetYourGuide, a SoftBank-backed travel startup. Reck said startups and public companies need "fundamentally different people." He said people who are "incredible effective" at Meta or Google may not thrive in a startup. "I think you need fundamentally different people for a Series A to Series C, D stage company than for a pre-IPO or public company with billions in revenue," Reck told the 20VC podcast host Harry Stebbings in an interview that aired Monday. "People who are incredibly effective at Netflix or Meta or Google or even GetYourGuide today are not the type of people who really thrive with a 30 or 50 people company, where you still need to continue to refine that core product market fit," Reck added. Reck founded GetYourGuide in 2009 while he was in college. Today, the company offers curated experiences for travelers in 12,000 cities. The company has raised over $1 billion from investors, including KKR and Softbank, according to Pitchbook. The company, which is headquartered in Berlin, employs more than 500 people, per LinkedIn. A representative for Reck did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. The nature of the work is different The type of work you'll encounter in startups is also different from the type of work at established companies, Reck said. "You need to ship stuff. You need to be really opinionated about what's going on," Reck said of running a startup in its early stages. In contrast, working at a mature company is about "managing multiple teams, managing organizations, doing roadmaps and creating more structure in the organization," Reck said. "Those are just fundamentally different skill sets and typically, also different types of people," he said. "You need to have these very entrepreneurial people in the early days, who often times by the way, don't work out in the late days," Reck added. Reck's take on the type of talent companies need to hire at various growth stages echoes a point Aravind Srinivas, the founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, previously told the Stanford Graduate School of Business. "You don't have to hire the former head of growth at Instagram to be the head of growth or head of product at Perplexity. That's a trap that a lot of people fall into," Srinivas said.
Skift
14-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
Airbnb Experiences Relaunch a 'Great Validation,' Says GetYourGuide CEO
More competition is always a risk, but GetYourGuide's CEO is hoping Airbnb's entrance lifts the whole experiences category. GetYourGuide and other leading platforms for travel experiences are facing fresh dose of competition now that Airbnb has relaunched its effort in the space. But GetYourGuide is positioning it as good news: It is a 'great validation for the experiences industry,' Johannes Reck, CEO of GetYourGuide, told Skift Wednesday. 'I'm delighted to see Airbnb's announcement and them doubling down on the space.' Airbnb's updated experiences offering is relaunching in 650 cities. Examples include a tour of the newly reopened Notre-Dame with the architect from the restoration team, and a Ramen cooking class in Japan with a Michelin-recognized chef. It is also launching services that travelers – and locals – can order. Think catering, photography, spa treatments, and personal training. 'This is great and super enriching for the market,' Reck said. For now, there's plenty of growth to go around, with Earnest Analytics estimating that since 2019, spending on travel experiences - booked online or offline - has risen by a third. Other competitors include Viator, Tiqets, and Klook. GetYourGuide has been seeking cost-effective marketing strategies to associate its brand with people who like live entertainment, sports, and activities. It's ramping up marketing in the U.S., where Tripadvisor's Viator leads in sales, and Airbnb and Expedia have established name recognition. 'The experiences industry is very different to others. We're building our capabilities,' Reck said, referring to providing experiences at both major tourist spots 'as well as hidden gems.' 'Consumers ultimately want both. They want to travel to New York City to see Broadway and The Edge and the Statue of Liberty, but they might also want to have a bagel club in Brooklyn that is super authentic and more niche,' he said. Having the capability of serving both marketplaces was 'what's key for experiences, and what's really special about this industry'. Airbnb's recent move was a 'great push' to make travel agents in the experiences industry more visible to consumers, who might otherwise find their experiences via search platforms like Google, Reck said. 'I think this will only be positive for an industry where online travel agents are still a minority of the overall spend.'
Forbes
08-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Gen Z Wants To Unlock The Experience Economy With A Bucket List
In an era where travel is often reduced to booking flights and hotel stays, some companies are pioneering a different approach. By focusing on curated experiences rather than just air and accommodations, GetYourGuide is tapping into the rapidly growing experience economy. The company aims to reshape how travelers explore destinations worldwide. The idea for the brand was born out of an insightful mishap. Co-founder Johannes Reck arrived a day early to a conference in Beijing, leaving him with time to explore—but no easy way to find truly immersive experiences. His business partner, Tao Tao, a Beijing native, created an unforgettable day of exploration for him. That spark of inspiration led to the realization that millions of travelers struggle to uncover the world's best experiences. And so, GetYourGuide was founded with a mission: to unlock unforgettable travel moments for everyone. Unlike flight aggregators or hotel booking sites, GetYourGuide functions as both an aggregator and an innovation engine. It provides a platform where experience creators—from individual tour guides to global attractions like Disney—can showcase their offerings. From crafting samurai swords in Japan to diving into Iceland's continental rift, GetYourGuide offers a vast array of experiences travelers didn't even know they were missing. One of the biggest challenges in the experience economy is fragmentation. Unlike the hotel industry—where the largest chains may differ in size by a factor of 100—the range of experience providers spans from small, independent artisans to global brands like Disney. This disparity creates logistical hurdles, but these can be addressed through a tech-driven marketplace. 'We had to build technology to make it easy for experience creators around the world to actually have a platform,' Tao explains. The company uses AI, machine learning, and data-driven personalization to curate and surface experiences tailored to each traveler's interests. The investment in AI ensures that recommendations go beyond the generic 'top attractions' and helps travelers uncover hidden gems that align with their preferences. The experience economy isn't just about booking activities—it's about discovery. Many travelers don't know what's possible until they see it. For example, Iceland tourists might be aware of the Northern Lights but might not realize they can also snorkel between tectonic plates in crystal-clear waters. With increasing reliance on AI-driven travel planning, GetYourGuide is positioned to benefit rather than compete with AI platforms. 'ChatGPT and AI assistants are great at suggesting general experiences, but they can't replace the rich content, detailed itineraries, and real-time availability that we provide,' Tao notes. Loyalty in travel has long been associated with points and perks from airlines and hotels. However, GetYourGuide is shifting the conversation by focusing on traveler engagement with experiences. 'Our purpose is very different from that of a hotel or booking platform,' Tao explains. 'It's about reconnecting people with a sense of wonder and discovery.' For business leaders and marketers, the takeaway is clear: consumers crave meaningful, personalized experiences. Whether in travel or other industries, brands that prioritize engagement, curation, and innovation will be the ones that thrive in the new experience economy.
