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In 2013 I got a call from @stewart.
His gaming startup, Glitch, had failed.
He seemed gutted. They had burned through millions and laid off their entire staff.
He had an idea he wanted us to help with.
A last ditch effort to get his investors money back...
His gaming startup, Glitch, had failed.
He seemed gutted. They had burned through millions and laid off their entire staff.
He had an idea he wanted us to help with.
A last ditch effort to get his investors money back...
It was an IRC-inspired chat app.
Womp womp.
There were already similar chat products like Campfire and HipChat.
I didn’t have the heart to tell him, but it seemed like a “me too” product.
I didn’t really get it. I thought it had low odds of success...
Womp womp.
There were already similar chat products like Campfire and HipChat.
I didn’t have the heart to tell him, but it seemed like a “me too” product.
I didn’t really get it. I thought it had low odds of success...
They called it “Slack” internally.
He hired @Metalab to help turn it into a launchable product.
Because of the situation, he could only afford to pay us $60,000 to do everything.
For a logo, marketing site, mobile and web apps—the works. https://medium.com/@awilkinson/slack-s-2-8-billion-dollar-secret-sauce-5c5ec7117908
He hired @Metalab to help turn it into a launchable product.
Because of the situation, he could only afford to pay us $60,000 to do everything.
For a logo, marketing site, mobile and web apps—the works. https://medium.com/@awilkinson/slack-s-2-8-billion-dollar-secret-sauce-5c5ec7117908
He offered equity, but I pushed for cash.
When you run an agency, cash is king. 9 times out of 10, startup equity turns out to be toilet paper that can’t pay people’s salaries.
We were small and running month to month. I had people to pay...
When you run an agency, cash is king. 9 times out of 10, startup equity turns out to be toilet paper that can’t pay people’s salaries.
We were small and running month to month. I had people to pay...
We worked like crazy and did our best to set it apart.
We tried to make Slack feel fun and different from other products. Like a video game.
The team hit it out of the park and defined the DNA of what became a smash hit.
Much of the original design still defines the product
We tried to make Slack feel fun and different from other products. Like a video game.
The team hit it out of the park and defined the DNA of what became a smash hit.
Much of the original design still defines the product
MetaLab was the first beta user.
There was something addictive about it.
It was fun to use for some reason. Better than the other products.
But I didn’t invest. I felt the writing was on the wall.
Tough market. Established competition. Etc...
There was something addictive about it.
It was fun to use for some reason. Better than the other products.
But I didn’t invest. I felt the writing was on the wall.
Tough market. Established competition. Etc...
I’d played it conservative and taken the cash.
It’s never obvious.
Even when you’re on the ground floor.
That was dumb: https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/01/salesforce-buys-slack/
It’s never obvious.
Even when you’re on the ground floor.
That was dumb: https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/01/salesforce-buys-slack/
