Startup Breakdown

The Founding Story of Notion

Background

In 2013, Ivan Zhao started his mission to change the way people work. He envisioned a tool that could blend the flexibility of a notebook with the power of a database, enabling users to manage tasks, take notes, and collaborate seamlessly. He joined up with Simon and Akshay and the rest is history..

• Mission: To simplify and enhance productivity for individuals and teams worldwide.

• Meet the Founders: Ivan Zhao is a passionate designer with an eye for user experience. Simon Last, is a talented programmer who starts as an intern. Akshay Kothari was the last piece. He had sold his previous company to Linkedin for $90m at the age of 27. It’s safe to say these guys were exceptional!

• Vision: To create a tool combining the flexibility of a notebook with the power of a database to enhance productivity.

Key Takeaway: Exceptional founders build great products.

Getting off the ground

• Technical Hurdles: Building the product proved to be a significant challenge. Constant experimentation and obsessiveness.

• Keeping the vision: Since the beginning, the team had this solid vision of creating building blocks for the internet.

• Stay Obsessed: For example, Simon had started his career as an intern. Ivan remarked over a podcast that Simon embodied the value of being obsessed when he had finished the Steve Jobs biography over a weekend. Truly obsessed with learning and being the best.
  
  P.S. that’s a 656 page book.

The lesson here is to stay focused on the vision, surround yourself with the best people and keep that burning determination.

First big moment

• Milestone Achievement:

  • In 2018, Notion moved from a web page tool to a productivity tool. Ivan noted that people don’t want to build the tool but they want an off the shelf product that is easy to work with.

  • The “aha moment” was when they realised they had to position themselves as a productivity tool but really it was a powerful computing tool that people could build anything with.

  • The release of Notion 2.0 in 2018 was when people really started to use the product and its enhanced features.

  • Significant increase in user adoption and market recognition.
    

• Worldwide Acclaim:

  • Build for the user, not for the idea. Notion built a product around the lifes and problems of people. Creating a study plan, a meal prep diary, a kanban to track leads - these are all user based scenarios.

  • This created a viral loop for Notion.

    • Create user based templates

    • Community talks about them and makes tutorials

    • Users find out about Notion.

This is how you get free marketing. Build for people and everyday problems.

How to get Notion for free for 6 Months:

1. Submit an application using our custom link: https://ntn.so/ideahub-newsletter and select IdeaHub Newsletter on the partner list.

2. Include our partner key, STARTUP4110P30161.

3. Email [email protected] with any questions!