Chris Savage

And without going too long into this story, we eventually actually had to walk away from the deal right before we were going to close the angel round. And we had to walk away from it because while they were really interested in what we were doing, they were like, hey, for us to use this, it needs to be on premise.

And without going too long into this story, we eventually actually had to walk away from the deal right before we were going to close the angel round. And we had to walk away from it because while they were really interested in what we were doing, they were like, hey, for us to use this, it needs to be on premise.

It needs to be in a closet, basically, at HBO's offices, which is terrifying to us because it was all in the cloud. And we'd never done a deal like this. And we realized that if we were to do that, we would probably have to move to L.A., And that was the only way we'd be able to support it.

It needs to be in a closet, basically, at HBO's offices, which is terrifying to us because it was all in the cloud. And we'd never done a deal like this. And we realized that if we were to do that, we would probably have to move to L.A., And that was the only way we'd be able to support it.

And then if we were to move to LA and we just got the movie series, like, is this really going to be that big of a market? And we were just like, oh, this is, well, it sounds, I mean, so we decided to say no. And I remember the feeling of going back to the angels and telling them, We said no to HBO. And I thought no one would write a check.

And then if we were to move to LA and we just got the movie series, like, is this really going to be that big of a market? And we were just like, oh, this is, well, it sounds, I mean, so we decided to say no. And I remember the feeling of going back to the angels and telling them, We said no to HBO. And I thought no one would write a check.

And again, I think this is one of those moments that it took many years for me to realize that's probably why they wrote the check was we actually had conviction of what we're trying to do, which was build this thing for SMBs and... not go do it on-prem and whatever. So yeah, I could go on and on and on about that.

And again, I think this is one of those moments that it took many years for me to realize that's probably why they wrote the check was we actually had conviction of what we're trying to do, which was build this thing for SMBs and... not go do it on-prem and whatever. So yeah, I could go on and on and on about that.

But it was very hard, but also in a way, it was just being honest, I think, about where we were and then being optimistic about what we believed, but also saying it might not work.

But it was very hard, but also in a way, it was just being honest, I think, about where we were and then being optimistic about what we believed, but also saying it might not work.

The thing that I underappreciated back then that I appreciate now is that a lot of times we don't realize how long it takes before something works. I was talking about this before. You think it's going to happen really fast, and often it's like you have a good idea. It often takes a lot longer than you think. But once it's working, there's usually a reason why.

The thing that I underappreciated back then that I appreciate now is that a lot of times we don't realize how long it takes before something works. I was talking about this before. You think it's going to happen really fast, and often it's like you have a good idea. It often takes a lot longer than you think. But once it's working, there's usually a reason why.

It might be that you have a great brand and an easy-to-use product in a market that's craving this. That's the hole in the market. It might be because you have the cheapest solution to an age-old problem that everyone understands. So if you come in really cheap, they're going to pay attention.

It might be that you have a great brand and an easy-to-use product in a market that's craving this. That's the hole in the market. It might be because you have the cheapest solution to an age-old problem that everyone understands. So if you come in really cheap, they're going to pay attention.

It might be they're doing something completely new that no one's ever seen before, and it causes a different person to be the buyer or something of a product than it could be. It changes where the budget is. Whatever it is, often we get something working, and when growth starts to happen, To keep growing, you often just have to keep doing that thing.

It might be they're doing something completely new that no one's ever seen before, and it causes a different person to be the buyer or something of a product than it could be. It changes where the budget is. Whatever it is, often we get something working, and when growth starts to happen, To keep growing, you often just have to keep doing that thing.

It's just how it shows up and how you have to accomplish it is very different. So you want to stay focused on what's different and unique, but the how you get there might change tremendously. And so what I think we didn't really appreciate at the time was that what people wanted was something really easy to use and something that anyone who was using video could use confidently.

It's just how it shows up and how you have to accomplish it is very different. So you want to stay focused on what's different and unique, but the how you get there might change tremendously. And so what I think we didn't really appreciate at the time was that what people wanted was something really easy to use and something that anyone who was using video could use confidently.

We did a lot of different things, but if you look at where we are now, that's basically exactly the same thing that we do today. When things started to take off for us, it was when we started having a lot of fun in our brand and we started being ourselves. We were transparent about the fact that we were a six-person company when we were later six people.

We did a lot of different things, but if you look at where we are now, that's basically exactly the same thing that we do today. When things started to take off for us, it was when we started having a lot of fun in our brand and we started being ourselves. We were transparent about the fact that we were a six-person company when we were later six people.