Great question. We've been finding locals a bunch of different ways. A TaskRabbiter suggested we try Craigslist like they did, and that was extremely successful. Locals verify their identity through Stripe on the site, and then we approve them if we like their profile, so we've been able to get some great locals that way. We're also working with local bloggers to reach out to their network, and we've had some success there.
As for the travelers, we're targeting lots of specific groups - football travelers, conference travelers, etc. People we can target.
And we solve the trust equation the same way AirBnb has - reviews, and detailed profiles. We hope the traveler can get a good idea of who they're planning with before they open a plan that way.
sorry, just playing devil's advocate. I've been iterating in this vertical for 2+ years.. it's not an easy industry to break through in, and it's not for lack of trying or money. The biggest challenge is the infrequency travel for most people.
Instead of doing that, you can find a local that has your interests, tell them you'll be in town with a friend and need a couple good bars to go to, and you're done in 5 minutes. A few hours to a couple days later, that information is in your hand, and all you needed to do was spend $5.
And that's why our site will work. We're not only proposing that you'll get great suggestions from our locals, we're also solving the endless browsing and searching that travelers currently have to do before getting to a new place.