On the TechTO stage ×1
First seen on the TechTO stage in 2023. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Darren ↗
In their words
The bigger the country, the more work you needed to do, whether it's China, Japan, United States, even Germany, we had to do more light localization to make the product relevant.
We had tightened things down so well in terms of the changing a Google search into a hotel booking that Google was a profit center for us.
A lot of other companies could say they were doing that, but we were just doing it with an intensity every day, every week, every month.
More from TechTO ×2
Around the web ×3
Quick answers
What is BlackPines Capital Partners?
Huston's Vancouver private investment firm, which takes concentrated control and growth positions in a small number of large consumer internet, travel and marketplace businesses. Its portfolio includes Skyscanner, The Knot Worldwide, Operto, GameAddik and Fora Travel.
What did he say about speed?
That velocity is the most underrated variable in business. His metaphor is that an internet business is an onion with fifty layers and you cannot see layer ten until you have worked through layer nine, so speed is what gets you to where the value is.
What is his four islands model?
A hard cap of four active engagements at a time, which he says he modelled on Jimmy Pattison and Barry Diller. He also argued the CEO of a fifty-person company should be the final interviewer, ten percent for quality control and ninety percent to sell the candidate.