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Conversation
Highlights
Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with David Siegel, CEO of Glide, an AI-powered no-code app development platform that enables anyone to create powerful software solutions for their business. The company has raised over $20 million in funding to date.
Key topics discussed in this episode:
- David’s background growing up fascinated by computers and technology, studying computer science and philosophy, and working on open source and software development tools.
- His experience at a startup building custom mobile apps for enterprises, which was acquired by Microsoft, and his decision to start Glide with his co-founders.
- The influence of the book “The Beginning of Infinity” by David Deutsch on David’s worldview and belief in the possibility of making software development accessible to everyone.
- Glide’s mission to be the go-to brand for creating software, just as PowerPoint is for presentations or Photoshop for image editing.
- The platform’s ability to analyze a spreadsheet and generate a responsive, well-designed app that updates in real-time, with features like AI, calculations, and interactivity.
Actionable
Takeaways
Provide an Aha Moment Early:
Glide's success in attracting over 85,000 companies can be attributed to its ease of use and the ability to provide a delightful, promising experience within the first few minutes of using the product. By enabling users to quickly connect a spreadsheet and generate a functional app, Glide creates momentum and encourages further exploration.
Supplement Product-Led Growth with Sales Assistance:
While PLG can be powerful, it can also be challenging for complex B2B products like developer tools. David recommends supplementing PLG with sales assistance, reaching out to high-potential customers and offering hands-on support to help them find success and expand their usage.
Be Accessible and Hands-On with Key Customers:
To build trust and credibility with enterprise customers, David makes himself accessible, joining calls, providing support, and even attending events in person to ensure a smooth experience. This high-touch approach can be crucial in securing and growing lighthouse accounts.
Embrace Remote Work and Adapt Accordingly:
When the pandemic forced Glide to become a fully remote company, David learned the importance of fully committing to making remote work successful. This involves implementing initiatives to keep people engaged, communicating regularly, and celebrating wins, rather than being half-hearted about the transition.
Cultivate Grit and Persist Through Challenges:
As a founder, grit is the ultimate skill needed to navigate the ups and downs of building a startup. David emphasizes the importance of staying committed to your vision, making incremental progress, and inspiring your team to keep moving forward, even when the path isn't always clear or easy.
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