This Week in Startups E1010: TWiST Live! Thumbtack CEO & Co-founder Marco Zappacosta shares insights on pivoting to optimize for consumer experience, starting a company during the great recession vs. 2019, fundraising tips & the future of Thumbtack
Dec 17, 2019
In this engaging discussion, Marco Zappacosta, CEO and co-founder of Thumbtack, shares his journey of launching the marketplace just before the Great Recession. He reflects on the stark contrasts of running a startup in 2010 versus 2019 and provides insights on optimizing consumer experience. Marco highlights essential fundraising tips, emphasizing the importance of quality investors. He also discusses the gig economy's impact on employment and how Thumbtack is navigating the scarcity of trade workers, all while growing into a multi-million dollar business.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Transparency in Leadership
- Be transparent with your team about the challenges of change, even as a leader.
- Acknowledging potential difficulties upfront fosters better understanding and reduces later anxieties.
Marketplaces and Human Talent
- Marketplaces unlock value by connecting underutilized assets with buyers, creating a positive-sum outcome.
- Human talent and time represent the largest untapped asset, offering immense potential for marketplace growth.
On-Demand vs. Considered Hiring
- Not all services benefit from an "on-demand" model; some require trust and personalized selection.
- Thumbtack's focus on considered hiring contrasts with the commoditized approach of some on-demand services.