Brian Schmidt’s Post

From Game Over to Startup Success: The Journey of Slack Have you ever imagined that a failed video game could transform into a multi-billion dollar messaging and productivity platform? Well that's the incredible story of Slack. In a recent newsletter by The Venture Crew, it reminded me of the intriguing story of Slack's origins. Originally envisioned as a gaming project by Stewart Butterfield, one of its co-founders, Slack emerged from the ashes of a failed video game venture called Glitch. Instead of giving up after the game's demise, Butterfield and his team recognised the potential of the internal communication tool they had developed to coordinate their work on Glitch. This tool eventually evolved into what we now know as Slack. The key to Slack's success lied in its ability to address a universal need in the modern workplace: efficient communication and collaboration. By providing a centralised platform for team messaging, file sharing, and project management, Slack innovated the way teams interact and work together. But it wasn't just the product itself that propelled Slack to success. Butterfield and his co-founders deeply understood the challenges faced by modern professionals and crafted a solution that resonated with millions of users worldwide. Today, Slack boasts over 12 million daily active users and has become an integral part of countless organisations, from small startups to Fortune 500 companies. Its rapid growth and widespread adoption culminated in a landmark acquisition by Salesforce for a staggering $27.7 billion in 2020. The story of Slack serves as a reminder that failure is not the end but rather a stepping stone to success. Read the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/dkU5HSuq

After working for over 15 years in different roles in startups, I decided to build a FREE checklist for people that want to launch a business but don’t know where to start. It’s also for the ADHDers that need a bit more structure to get things done :) Check out the bonus notes too in the hover of each cell. If you have suggestions on other rows to add, please share below 👇 https://lnkd.in/e78UhK9w #startup #operations #smallbusiness

Feeling overwhelmed with tasks? No worries, we've got your back. Boost your productivity with these must-have tools: Trello for organized project management, Asana for structured task tracking, and Notion for all-in-one workspace magic. Slack for seamless team communication, and Evernote for capturing ideas on the go. These tools will keep you on top of your game and help make your business management a breeze. Try them out and watch your productivity skyrocket! #techlypros #techhelp #techsupport #websolutions #solopreneurs #solopreneurlife #solopreneurship #solopreneursuccess #technology #onlinebusiness #businessmindset #startup #businessowner #businesssuccess #businessmind #solopreneurlife #sidehustlers

In the fast-paced world of startups, success often hinges on securing funding and building critical relationships with investors and licensing partners. To achieve this, a crucial but often underestimated aspect of fundraising is having the right staff dedicated to setting up the meetings, monitoring their outcomes, and documenting key summary and follow-up information.  Learn more: The Crucial Role of a Dedicated Meeting Coordinator in the Startup Fundraising Process | Next Phase Newsletter (lifesciencenation.com) https://lnkd.in/e4wnxp88

Ready to supercharge your project management? Boosting productivity and collaboration just got easier with Zoho Projects ! 🚀 Seamlessly manage tasks, timelines, and team communication all in one place. Say goodbye to project chaos and hello to streamlined success with Hithav Partners ! Start your free trial of Zoho Projects today and unlock seamless collaboration, task management, and more - https://zurl.co/DG9I #ZohoProjects #Productivity #Collaboration #startups #zoho #hithav!

For our Retrieval-Augmented-Generation venture, I've tried Pinecone, Weaviate, Chroma but Vectara strikes me as the most comprehensive solution out there. In my current #SixWeeksProduct startup www.aibochat.com which we plan to launch soon, we decided to bet on our R&D with Vectara and I'm amazed by the level of support. Big kudos to Ryan Ham for organizing a solution architecture call where I was able to discuss how Vectara fits in our tech stack. If you haven't you should go and check the guys out for your startup. #GenerativeAI #AI #ML #RAG #VentureBuilding #Startups

Accelerators, raise your hand if... Your cohort management feels like a mix of spreadsheets, emails, and sticky notes. Managing startups sometimes resembles herding cats. Logistics take up more time than supporting your brilliant ventures. We get it. Handling multiple startups, mentors, and deadlines can turn the most enthusiastic accelerator into a frazzled mess. Today, we're tossing out the duct tape and adopting a streamlined approach to cohort management that's as smooth as a freshly-funded pitch deck. Introducing the 3 Pillars of Effortless Cohort Management: Ditch the Data Silo: Move beyond scattered spreadsheets and fragmented tools. Invest in a unified platform for real-time progress tracking, automated reminders, and seamless collaboration. Tailor the Journey: One size doesn't fit all. Design flexible pathways for different stages, industries, and learning styles. Offer personalized mentorship, targeted workshops, and customized resources. Foster the Community: Your cohort is more than startups; it's a vibrant ecosystem. Cultivate a culture of peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing, and friendly competition. Watch innovation skyrocket! By implementing these pillars, transform cohort management from chaos to strategy. Focus on nurturing the next generation of game-changing ventures. Happy startups lead to thriving accelerator programs. Visit https://lnkd.in/gNg9EiFH to turn your accelerator into a launchpad for success! #AcceleratorLife #CohortManagement #StartupGrowth

🚀 Building a Startup in 2023? Here’s Your Digital Toolbox! Starting a business without the right tools is a daunting task, akin to building a spaceship from garage spare parts. Thankfully, we've done the heavy lifting for you! Our latest blog post explores the 5 Best Softwares & Tools for Startups in 2023. Here's a sneak peek: 📊 Pulley: Manage your cap table like a pro. 🗂️ Notion: Project management made simple. 💼 Growfin.ai: Streamline your Accounts Receivable. 🔍 Google Search Console: Analytics at your fingertips. 📱 HubSpot: Control your social media channels. 🔖 Check out the full breakdown and gain the insights you need to thrive: https://lnkd.in/gZU9jC7A 👍 And, don’t forget to follow Finprinciple for more insightful updates from the world of finance, investing and business! #finprinciple #startups #software #tools #entrepreneurship #innovation #contentmarketing #marketing #pulley #notion #growfin #google #hubspot #fintech #growth

In the dynamic world of tech entrepreneurship, few stories are as inspiring as that of Stewart Butterfield and his team's transformation from gaming enthusiasts to pioneers of workplace communication with Slack. ExpertBells, a platform known for connecting visionaries with industry experts, would undoubtedly recognize this journey as a testament to the power of adaptability and seizing opportunities. In 2009, Stewart Butterfield, co-founder of Flickr, ventured into creating the massively multiplayer online game "Glitch" under his company, Tiny Speck. Despite their dedicated efforts, Glitch struggled to gain the expected traction in the gaming world. However, within Tiny Speck, an unexpected gem emerged - an internal communication tool designed to enhance collaboration. This tool streamlined conversations, file sharing, and message searches. Recognizing its potential, Stewart Butterfield and his team boldly pivoted, transforming the communication tool into Slack, a standalone product aimed at revolutionizing workplace communication and collaboration. The notion of Book 1:1 sessions with top mentors for your billion-dollar SaaS idea, as offered by ExpertBells, aligns perfectly with the innovative spirit that led to Slack's creation. In August 2013, they officially unveiled their creation as "Slack," an acronym for "Searchable Log of All Conversation and Knowledge." Slack's user-friendly interface, customizable channels, seamless integrations with other software, and exceptional user experience quickly captured the attention of businesses and teams worldwide. Slack's growth was nothing short of remarkable. It became a game-changer in the realm of workplace communication, offering an efficient and user-friendly alternative to email and traditional messaging systems. The company's success propelled it to a significant increase in valuation and attracted millions of users across diverse industries. In 2019, Salesforce recognized Slack's immense potential and acquired it for an astounding $27.7 billion, cementing its status as a major player in the workplace communication and collaboration landscape. This acquisition illustrates the kind of monumental success that entrepreneurs dream of when they engage with platforms like ExpertBells to gain insights and guidance from industry experts. The Slack story, coupled with the idea of seeking mentorship through ExpertBells, underscores how adaptability and seizing opportunities in the tech industry can turn challenges into remarkable success, highlighting the boundless possibilities of entrepreneurship. Slack #innovation #entrepreneurship #techsuccessstory #startup #journey #origin #trend #trending #tech #technology #success #vision #mentor #mentorship #expertbells

📣 Very excited to share more about what we're working on at Hoop! There's so much talk these days about WHERE work is happening — in the office, at home, a bit of both. But it's misses the point. Regardless of where people are sitting, if they're spending all day attending meetings and responding to the latest ping, they aren't doing their best work. We need to think more about HOW we're working. So we can prioritize what's important instead of what's most recent. So teams can focus and create instead of react and respond. That's what we're thinking about at Hoop. It's how we're working ourselves, and it's how we're helping other teams work, too. If this sounds like something that would help your team, follow along and get in touch. https://lnkd.in/e9vAYs5m #futureofwork #remotework #rto #returntooffice #startups #announcements #launch