Two-sided platform design connecting supply and demand
Marketplace domain knowledge covers the unique challenges of building platforms that connect buyers with sellers (or service providers with consumers). Successful marketplaces like Airbnb, Uber, and Upwork solve the chicken-and-egg problem, achieve liquidity, manage trust, and create network effects. Marketplace businesses are among the most valuable in tech but also the hardest to build due to the cold start problem and the need to balance supply and demand simultaneously.