How to Leverage Low-Cost Stunts and Platform Hacks for Exponential Growth

When Airbnb was struggling to gain users, the team noticed that most travelers browsed Craigslist for temporary accommodations. Because Craigslist made it impossible to directly post to its site, Airbnb’s engineers coded a tool that let any host cross-list their Airbnb offering with a single click, effectively leveraging Craigslist’s massive user base without official permission. This low-cost hack propelled Airbnb from a niche site to a rapidly growing marketplace.

Other startups have pulled off similar stunts: Dropbox’s viral demo video, Uber’s free rides at SXSW, or eBay’s free Wi-Fi browsing partnership with airlines. Each saw a gap—an underused or unexpected channel—and found a clever, inexpensive way to get noticed by the right people. These “Trojan horse” strategies sometimes work only once, but when they do, the payoff is exponential.

Such unconventional tactics aren’t about being sneaky or reckless—they’re about recognizing where attention flows and injecting your message where it makes sense. It’s a blend of creativity, technical know-how, and fast feedback loops. Trusted, targeted stunts become platforms for word-of-mouth and media buzz, helping even resource-strapped teams get real traction.

Look beyond the obvious and see where your audience truly spends their time, then brainstorm one bold or unexpected way to show up in that space—whether it’s collaborating on a quirky event, making your demo video uniquely fit a tight-knit community, or offering a free bonus through an overlooked channel. Start on a small scale, track what happens, and don’t be afraid to double down on what really pops while letting the rest go. Try your first creative outreach or platform hack this month and see how far your reach can extend.