Slack's Launch Story: From Zero to Promising in Silicon Valley

In this episode, James Sheret narrates the story of Slack's initial release to the world on August 12, 2013. Facing enormous pressure, the Slack team embarked on a 'burn down' mission to prepare for launch, coordinating through daily calls and task lists. With fewer than 200 users of their free product and zero revenue, they aimed to see if people would overcome the 'suck hump' of product adoption. The episode details their meticulous preparation, including working with PR agencies and investors, focusing on acquiring influential tech blog coverage, and aiming for ambitious goals such as 25,000 site visitors and 200 new teams. The narrative also explores the status-driven nature of Silicon Valley and how Slack leveraged PR and storytelling to make an impact. As their initial goals were met, the team faced the challenge of sustaining their early success and converting signups into active users.

00:00 Introduction: The Birth of Slack

00:26 The Urgency of Launch

01:22 Preparing for Launch Day

01:42 The Burn Down List

03:42 Preview Release Strategy

04:57 Setting Ambitious Goals

05:47 Silicon Valley's Royal Court

08:37 Executing the PR Campaign

10:44 Achieving Initial Success

11:53 Reflecting on the Journey

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com