BY MICHAEL RADPARVAR | When my parents fled Iran in 1979 during the violence and tumult of the revolution, they came to America, as centuries of other immigrants have. They worked hard and were able to start a business and raise a family. It is thanks to them that my brother and I have also been able to create our own small business — a tech-based lifestyle company called Holstee here in New York City.
Of course, we had many assets our parents did not have, including one that turned out to be very important: Airbnb. Hosting through Airbnb helped us launch our company in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. As government officials consider questions around short-term rentals, they must understand how much people like us rely on it, as well as the economic impact it has on this city.
Our company’s earliest days are a perfect example of what makes starting a business in New York City so challenging. We had a bright idea and a Herculean work ethic, but we could not scale the sheer wall of affording the rent for our apartment. I remember looking at our financials, and thinking we could actually get our idea off the ground if the rent weren’t so damn high.
We were living in an apartment in the East Village, and, in 2008, became among Airbnb’s first users. Initially, we were one part curious and one part cautious. But when the economy crashed, it left us with few options, and we jumped in with both feet. Airbnb became our small business stimulus.
Over the next several years, we hosted guests from around the world. Not only have we never had so much as a hand towel stolen, but we made dozens of dear friends.
The extra financial wiggle room gave us a boost and our business snowballed. Today Holstee is a team of 12 and we are growing strong. We have a new headquarters in Gowanus, Brooklyn, that allows us to a welcome our growing community into our workspace through yoga classes, potluck dinners and speaking events. We still have to hustle, but we are a thriving company. In hindsight, I’m not sure that we would have even gotten out of the gate without Airbnb.
It turns out, our company’s Airbnb roots also reflect something so important to our family — opening your home to travelers who need a place to stay. Soon after we started hosting through Airbnb, my mom was reminded of stories about our grandfather that we had never heard before. He hosted students and Peace Corps volunteers in Shiraz, Iran, throughout my mother’s childhood. It was important to him to give generously in that way; to use what he had — his home — to help people. I’m so proud that we continued this family tradition.
Opening our home to guests is in our family’s blood, and it became a part of our company’s DNA, thanks to Airbnb. Legislators should know that it’s also part of New York City’s heritage. Airbnb is just a new way to do what immigrants and small business owners have done in this city for ages — use what you have to work hard to make your way here.
Radparvar is co-founder, Holstee
