The Upstarts: How Uber, Airbnb, and the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley Are Changing the World

by Brad Stone

With another guest staying at Rausch Street, Kat Jurick, Surve attended the pecha-kucha, and later in the week, Gebbia took him on a tour of the city, showing him sights like the famous winding block of Lombard Street and the farmers’ market outside the Ferry Building. Gebbia, who liked to exhibit his design sensibilities with stylish items like colorful sneakers and trendy, oversize eyeglasses, sported an aviator hat with furry ears in the fall chill. After the conference, Surve had an extra day in the city and wanted to see the famous d.school—the Institute of Design at Stanford University. Chesky wanted to see it too, so he offered to drive. At Stanford, the pair sat in the front row at a free lecture given by the Italian designer Ezio Manzini and afterward introduced themselves to Bill Moggridge, a co-founder of Ideo, the iconic design firm, and chairman of that week’s design conference.