13 Comments
User's avatar
Kei Watanabe's avatar

This is a really great read! Thank you for writing and sharing. I've learned a lot about their growth strategy.

Here's my learning: https://share.glasp.co/kei/?p=91ec9b73662aa5ca8fd8

Jaryd Hermann's avatar

Thanks so much, Kei! And thanks for sharing these awesome highlights. Glasp looks awesome!

Kei Watanabe's avatar

I haven't been interested in Zapier so far, but your article opened up my eyes! Their growth strategy is excellent. Thanks for sharing the detailed article.

Also, thanks for checking my highlights. :)

GP's avatar

Thorough piece! I suggest anybody who has not tried Zapier yet, to do so. The product is fantastic. I have been a user for 6-7 years. You will find a way to work Zapier into your daily work.

Puppy Tsai's avatar

Great insights as usual! This piece also made me think about AirBnb's move of shedding PMs to focus solely on PMMs...

Lenny Johnson's avatar

Excellent article Jaryd! Thank you for sharing.

Kinder's avatar

How is that bootstrapping with $1.3M of investment?

Interesting read btw, just would not agree on that they bootstrapped at all.

For me the bootstrapping is, when you build and grow something with very minimal capital, mostly coming from your own pocket (but not strictly necessary). And $1.3M is def not minimal capital, in my honest opinion.

Jaryd Hermann's avatar

Hey, thanks for dropping in with a comment! I did say “basically bootstrapped”, which for a company of their size, I still standby. To get to a valuation of $5b with just a single raise, and turning down ample funding opportunities along the way, rings more bootstrapped to me and venture backed.

They didn’t take on more money to accelerate growth, they had to be capital efficient, and they didn’t answer to investors or go around pitching.

But I 100% hear your point, $1.3m I definitely not nothing.

Kinder's avatar

Appreciate your time to respond. I got your point, you are right. They almost bootstrapped in sense, that they didn't go standard route like most of companies that was raising seed or round A.

Bravo for them. I like Zapier a lot, and I respect Wade's work.

Jaryd Hermann's avatar

Of course! Thanks for reading 🙏 I’m excited to see how the next evolution goes and if they can steal some share of that AWZ stack.

& Monetization Architect™'s avatar

Beautiful 🤩

Pieter's avatar

I couldn’t help but wonder if you found anything in your research regarding their North Star? Thinking from the typical VC company, the North Star is either to go IPO to get more returns for investors or to keep growing to get more returns for investors.

What would you argue the motivator is for a company like zapier? Would they even consider going IPO and cope with the accompanied pressure on growth?