Podcast Summary
Finding Balance and Building Success: Jason Citron's focus on the gaming community led to Discord's unique angle in the social media market. Business travelers can maximize trips with leisure time and the Delta Sky Miles Platinum Business Amex Card. Tech careers offer perks and a supportive work environment with the NSA. Strong company culture is essential for growth with Insparity HR.
Finding balance in work and leisure, as well as being part of a supportive and innovative team, are keys to success and happiness. Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to the full story of how Jason Citron built Discord, a social platform that became a lifeline for gamers and millions during the pandemic. Citron's focus on the gaming community allowed Discord to enter the crowded social media market through a unique angle. Meanwhile, business travelers can maximize their trips by incorporating leisure time and considering the Delta Sky Miles Platinum Business American Express Card. Additionally, individuals seeking to advance their careers in technology and innovation can explore opportunities with the National Security Agency, which offers fantastic perks and a supportive work environment. Lastly, creating a strong company culture is essential for growth and success, and Insparity HR can help businesses build a culture aligned with their goals.
From college dropout to Discord founder: A strong understanding of user needs and a passion for solving their problems can lead to significant achievements, regardless of one's educational background.
Creating a product or platform that caters to the needs and desires of its users can lead to remarkable success, even if the creator's educational background may not seem traditional. Jason Citron, the founder of Discord, dropped out of a video game design program at a for-profit college in Florida and faced early failures in his game development endeavors. However, he discovered his knack for enabling gamers to communicate effectively, which resulted in Discord's meteoric growth, with over 150 million monthly users and a reported $10 billion buyout offer from Microsoft. Citron's early fascination with video games, ignited by a friend's claim that he could make them, eventually led him to a career in computer programming. He made money in high school by helping people learn computer skills and building websites for clients. Despite the stigma surrounding for-profit colleges, Citron's education provided him with the practical skills he needed to succeed. Ultimately, the success of Discord demonstrates that a strong understanding of user needs and a passion for solving their problems can lead to significant achievements, regardless of one's educational background.
From humble beginnings to Silicon Valley success: Determination, adaptability, and seizing opportunities are key to success in the tech industry, regardless of background or education.
In Silicon Valley, the focus is on what you can do rather than where you come from. The speaker shares his personal experience of not attending a prestigious school but still being successful in the tech industry. He also mentions the accidental discovery of his career path when he moved to Berkeley to make friends and ended up in a tech incubator. The importance of having a great idea and the ability to bring it to life is emphasized. The speaker also talks about how the launch of the App Store presented an opportunity to start a video game business, leading him to pivot from his previous project and launch one of the first 50 titles on the App Store. Overall, the discussion highlights the value of determination, adaptability, and seizing opportunities in the tech industry.
From Free Game to Multiplayer Tech: Adaptability and perseverance are crucial for startups when faced with unexpected challenges. Aurora Faint pivoted from a free game to selling multiplayer tech to other developers, saving their business but requiring a rebuild of their technology.
The success of a startup can be unpredictable, even when it seems promising. The founders of Aurora Faint, a puzzle game for iPhones, initially thought they had a winning concept with its unique use of the device's accelerometer and contact list features. They launched the game for free with plans to upsell a premium version, but it didn't generate the revenue they expected. Instead, they pivoted and sold the technology they had built for multiplayer support to other game developers, creating OpenFaint. This unexpected turn saved their startup, but it required them to rebuild the technology from scratch to make it generic and easily integrated into other games. This experience demonstrates the importance of adaptability and perseverance in the face of unexpected challenges.
Transforming high score tracking into a social gaming platform: OpenFaint, started by five members, turned a simple high score system into a competitive multiplayer experience, launched with 15 games, secured $12M funding without revenue, and faced challenges during the 2009 financial crisis.
OpenFaint, an early social gaming platform, transformed a simple high score tracking system into a competitive multiplayer experience across various iPhone games. The team, consisting of five members, started from scratch after gaining interest from over 100 users. They launched with 15 games, including the hit "Pocket God," and generated end-user awareness through the OpenFaint logo on app icons. The initial business model didn't work out, leading to a pivot towards raising $12 million in funding without revenue. Despite the challenges, the team's belief and understanding of the market helped them secure investments. However, the process of pitching for money during the 2009 financial crisis was difficult, with few Sand Hill Road VCs investing in the company. Overall, OpenFaint showcases the potential of a social gaming platform and the determination of its founders to make it a success.
Lessons in Leadership and Management from Starting a Successful Startup: Building a successful startup involves learning from mistakes, mentors, and trial and error. Strong company culture and managing technical debt are crucial. Natural leadership abilities, a willingness to learn, and navigating complex business environments are key.
Building a successful startup involves a lot of learning on the job, especially when it comes to leadership and management. Jason's experience with OpenFaint illustrates this point. He started the company with a small team and grew it quickly, but he faced challenges in leading and managing such a large group. He made mistakes, but also learned from mentors and through trial and error. The importance of building a strong company culture and managing technical debt were key lessons he had to learn. The sale of OpenFaint to gree for a large sum was a difficult decision, but it was driven by the company's user growth, financial potential, and the changing market landscape. Overall, Jason's journey demonstrates that building a successful startup requires a combination of natural leadership abilities, a willingness to learn, and the ability to navigate complex business environments.
Seller's Vision vs. Buyer's Plans: Financial gain isn't the only success factor when building a business. Seller's vision and buyer's plans may not align, leading to disagreements and potential departure.
When selling a business, there can be a disconnect between the buyer's and seller's vision for the company's future. In this case, the seller, Jason, had built OpenFane with a passion for creating experiences for users, but the acquirer, Gris, had different plans to monetize the product. Despite Jason's initial support for Gris's strategy, he soon realized that it would harm the product he had poured his heart and soul into. The language barrier and differing expectations further contributed to their disagreements. Ultimately, Jason left the company after a few months, but the sale had provided him with financial security to pursue new opportunities. This experience served as a reminder that while financial success is important, it's not the only factor in building a company that matters.
Identifying emerging trends and creating innovative solutions: Successful businesses recognize trends and create unique offerings, like Jason's tablet gaming company, Canva's design tools, and Squarespace's website builder.
Successful businesses identify emerging trends and leverage them to create innovative products or services. Jason, a former entrepreneur, recognized the potential of the iPad as a game-changing technology in 2011-2012. He saw an opportunity to build a gaming company specializing in multiplayer games for tablets, which could differentiate itself from competitors by offering a team-based, real-time gaming experience with built-in voice and text chat. This idea was not only about creating engaging games but also building a social network for gamers. By going direct to consumers, Jason aimed to establish a direct relationship with the game players and eventually expand the business through the communication network and additional titles. Similarly, companies like Canva and Squarespace identified the need for visually appealing presentations and websites, respectively, and provided easy-to-use solutions for businesses and individuals to make an impact and build their brands.
Creating a New Gaming Ecosystem with Hammer and Chisel: In 2012, Hammer and Chisel raised funds to build a gaming ecosystem, recruited team members, and developed their first mobile MOBA, Fates Forever, in 1.5 years, offering a unique mobile-native experience with touch mechanics.
The founding team of Hammer and Chisel, formerly known as Phoenix Guild, raised seed money in 2012 to build a new gaming ecosystem combining games, communication services, and distribution mechanisms. They started by recruiting key team members, including an artist named Brandon, and developed their first game, Fates Forever, which was a real-time multiplayer MOBA (Massively Online Battle Arena) inspired by League of Legends. The team, consisting of eight people, took approximately one and a half years to create the game after securing funding. They aimed to offer a mobile-native experience with unique touch mechanics, setting Fates Forever apart from its PC counterparts. Despite lacking specific game ideas at the start, the team had a vision of creating a platform for friends to share memorable experiences in real-time multiplayer games.
Staying the course and being open to pivots: Perseverance and pivoting are crucial in entrepreneurship. Understand your customer base and be open to new ideas to succeed.
Perseverance and a willingness to pivot are key in entrepreneurship. The founder of Hammer and Chisel initially focused on making a MOBA game for tablets, but faced opposition from team members. Despite this setback, the team decided to continue and eventually renamed the company to honor the craft of game development. They eventually hired more team members and worked hard to build a great workplace culture. However, the game didn't take off as expected, and they pivoted to creating a communication app instead. An early team member, Stanislaw Vishnevsky, had the insight to solve the problem of communication for gamers directly, rather than requiring a game as a means to an end. The team's decision to launch on PC instead of mobile was met with skepticism, but ultimately paid off as they understood their customer base and the unique benefits of playing games on PC. The story of Hammer and Chisel illustrates the importance of staying the course, being open to pivots, and understanding the needs of your customer base.
A platform for gamers to communicate seamlessly: Discord was created to simplify communication for gamers by providing an all-in-one platform, eliminating the need to switch between apps and fostering online communities
Discord was created to serve as a simple, all-in-one platform for gamers to communicate and hang out with their friends, both during and after gaming sessions. The founders identified a need for a streamlined experience that eliminated the need to switch between various communication apps, allowing for seamless and uninterrupted conversations. This concept resonated with the gaming community, and Discord quickly gained popularity due to its convenience and ability to foster online communities. The founders recognized the potential for a larger impact and decided to focus solely on Discord, leaving behind their initial plans for a video game company.
Jason Citron pivots from gaming to Discord, a communication platform for gamers: Jason Citron pivoted from his gaming project to create Discord, a communication platform for gamers, which gained viral growth through its ease of use and group communication features.
When Jason Citron realized that his previous gaming project wasn't gaining the desired traction, he decided to pivot and focus on creating Discord, a communication platform for gamers. In April 2015, he made the decision to let go of his art team and fully commit to Discord. They gained initial attention through a Reddit post and a few hundred signups, leading to word-of-mouth growth. On Discord, a server refers to a space for communities, allowing users to create their own "super power group chats" or private communities. The service's viral growth can be attributed to its ease of use and group communication features. Jason named Discord after remembering a conversation with a colleague about the importance of harmony and unity in a workplace. The company's mission was to create a workplace culture that did not suck, which translated into an engaging and enjoyable user experience for Discord.
Effective communication and innovation lead to harmony and success in business: Investing in emerging trends through thematic investing and clear communication through tools like Grammarly can lead to business growth and success
Effective communication and innovation are key to success in business. Schwab's thematic investing allows users to discover emerging trends and invest in relevant stocks through easily customizable themes. Meanwhile, Grammarly helps teams communicate clearly and efficiently, saving time and resources. Jason's experience with Discord illustrates this concept in action. Despite having numerous competitors, Discord's innovation of a web-based platform made it stand out and drive growth. Effective communication, whether through clear writing or innovative technology, can lead to harmony and success in business.
Discord's Growth through Twitch Integration: Discord grew rapidly by integrating with Twitch, offering value-added services, and believing in a talented team's ability to accomplish significant work. Now, it tests native subscriptions for influencers and server hosts to earn money directly from their communities.
Discord, a communication platform for gamers, grew rapidly by offering value-added services to Twitch streamers and their subscribers. Initially, Discord did not have a business model, but it aimed to fund the company through venture capital and later build a games distribution business. The platform integrated with Twitch, allowing subscribers access to Discord servers and automatic removal when they stopped paying. This integration made Discord popular among Twitch streamers, who saw it as an easy and meaningful benefit to offer their paid subscribers. The company's small and mighty teams managed the growth despite having a relatively small team, believing in the power of a talented group to accomplish significant work. Additionally, Discord has since started testing native subscriptions, allowing influencers and server hosts to earn money directly from their communities.
Investing in company culture during growth: CEO paused hiring, trained managers, prioritized privacy, and maintained focus on connection and community to build a strong foundation for Discord's long-term success.
Focusing on building a strong foundation and culture within a company, even during periods of rapid growth, can lead to long-term success. The CEO of Discord shared how they paused hiring and invested in training their own managers, creating a positive work environment, and prioritizing privacy and safety. These decisions paid off when Discord faced challenges, such as dealing with inappropriate use of their platform and the need to build more robust moderation tools. The company's commitment to user privacy, without selling data or running ads, also sets them apart in the market. Despite pivoting between gaming and social networking, the CEO emphasized that their focus on creating a platform for connection and community has remained constant.
Discovering a broader market demand and adapting to user feedback: Listening to users and staying agile led Discord to pivot, expand their mission, and experience significant growth during the pandemic
Discord, initially focused on gaming communities, discovered a broader market demand when they launched a game store in late 2018. However, they faced competition from larger companies and struggled to differentiate themselves. After realizing the game store wasn't working, they shifted their focus and embraced their users' feedback. They expanded their mission to help give people the power to create belonging in their lives, not just around games. This rebranding and refocusing paid off when Discord saw massive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the initial setback, Discord's commitment to understanding their users' needs and adapting their mission led to their continued success. It's a reminder that listening to your audience and staying agile in the face of challenges can lead to significant growth and impact.
Minimizing bad behavior on Discord through user control and moderation: Discord's success is built on user control, moderator empowerment, clear community guidelines, and a dedicated trust and safety team. The team's focus on innovation and creating value for customers has led to the success of Nitro and Discord's constant evolution.
Discord, with its large user base and opt-in conversations, is designed to minimize bad behavior by giving individuals control over their experiences and empowering moderators to enforce rules. The platform also has clear community guidelines and a trust and safety team to investigate reports. Despite its current success and $15 billion valuation, the possibility of acquisition exists due to the rapidly changing technology landscape and the company's fiduciary responsibility to investors and employees. The team's focus on innovation and creating value for customers has led to the success of Nitro and the constant evolution of Discord. The journey of building two successful companies, including one in the competitive social media space, started with a young, non-traditional background, demonstrating that determination and innovation can lead to significant achievements.
The Role of Luck in Building a Successful Business: Hard work and luck contribute to success, but luck can play a significant role in unexpected opportunities and setbacks.
Success in life can be attributed to a combination of hard work and luck. Jason Citron, the co-founder and CEO of Discord, shared his experiences and acknowledged the role of luck in his journey to building a successful company. He grew up with the belief that building a business could lead to a good life, and he was fortunate enough to stumble upon the tech industry and the opportunity to create Discord. However, he has also faced setbacks and learned that being right and wrong don't feel that different before the answer is known. The unplanned situations and leaps he took were out of his control, highlighting the importance of luck. Despite his success, he remains humble and appreciative of the role luck has played in his life. The Cat in the Hatcast, a new family podcast from Wondery, also emphasizes the importance of embracing the unexpected and enjoying the journey, much like Jason Citron's experience.
