The Story

Stewart Butterfield, the tech entrepreneur behind the successful workplace communication platform, Slack, didn't initially set out to revolutionize how we communicate at work. His early years were spent far removed from the world of tech startups, in a log cabin in Lund, British Columbia, Canada, without amenities like running water, electricity, or a telephone. Despite these humble beginnings, he was destined to make a significant impact on the global tech scene.

Butterfield's journey into the tech world began in earnest in the late 90s when he completed his Master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. He co-founded a web design company, Gradfinder.com, which was later acquired. This initial taste of success fueled Butterfield's passion for entrepreneurship.

In 2002, Butterfield co-founded Ludicorp, a company that would later launch Flickr, a popular photo-sharing platform. In 2005, Yahoo acquired Flickr, and Butterfield stayed on with Yahoo as the General Manager of Flickr until he left in 2008.

However, his journey to Slack was far from linear. In 2009, Butterfield co-founded a new gaming company, Tiny Speck, that launched an online game called Glitch. Unfortunately, Glitch was not a success and shut down in 2012.

While Glitch did not achieve the success that Butterfield and his team had hoped for, it wasn't a total loss. The team had built a communication tool to use internally during the development of the game. They realized that this tool was incredibly useful and could fill a gap in the market for team communication and collaboration.

This tool was the genesis of Slack. Launched in 2013, Slack was an immediate success. It filled a critical need in the market for a central hub where teams could communicate, collaborate, and share files. Butterfield's philosophy background influenced the development of Slack, as he emphasized simplicity, clarity, and most importantly, the human element of the workplace.

In the years since its launch, Slack has grown exponentially, becoming a household name in the world of business and technology. It went public in 2019 and was later acquired by Salesforce in 2020.

Butterfield's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and the ability to pivot when necessary. He saw potential in a failed video game's communication tool, and that vision paid off in a big way.

Lessons from Stewart

1. The Power of Pivot: The initial idea behind Tiny Speck was to create an online game, Glitch. When Glitch didn't work out, Butterfield and his team were able to pivot and repurpose the internal communication tool they had developed into what is now Slack. The ability to adapt to circumstances and pivot when necessary can be the key to success.

2. Focus on User Experience: Butterfield's philosophy background played a role in shaping the development of Slack. He prioritized simplicity, clarity, and the human element, all of which are critical to creating a good user experience. A product that is easy to use and meets the needs of its users is more likely to succeed.

3. Persistence in the Face of Failure: Butterfield had several ventures before Slack, including a web design company and the photo-sharing platform Flickr. Not every venture was a success, but he didn't let failures deter him from trying again. Persistence is often key in entrepreneurship.

Favorite Quote