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Notion’s lost years, its near collapse during Covid, staying small to move fast, the joy and suffering of building horizontal, more | Ivan Zhao (CEO and co-founder)
- Ivan Zhao, the CEO and co-founder of Notion, shares the company's untold story, including facing near collapse during Covid and finding product-market fit after 'lost years.'
- Notion prioritized systems over headcount, keeping a small, focused team even as they scaled.
- Lessons include the importance of building a great product above all else and starting over if necessary.
- Notion's community-led growth tactics and Ivan's journey from a small town in China are highlighted.
- The importance of building for users, staying true to the vision but flexible in tactics, and balancing craft and values in product development are discussed.
- Notion's unique approach of delaying monetization, staying lean, and focusing on community trust led to success.
- Key takeaways include building horizontal products with a clear use case, hiding broader visions within familiar concepts, and balancing foundational capabilities with packaged solutions.
- Ivan shares insights on product-market fit, staying lean, creating office culture, and the value of craft and values in business building.
- The podcast also covers leadership, challenges faced by Notion, the philosophy of tools and human potential, and more.
- Ivan Zhao's advice for entrepreneurs includes being willing to start over, building for users' true needs, and staying lean for faster decision-making.
- Notion's journey from a failed first version to a successful product emphasizes the importance of solving real user problems and building trust within the community.
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