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Big news: Reclaim is now a part of Dropbox 🎉 We’re thrilled to be joining forces with such a visionary (and legendary) team to help drive the future of productivity for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The Reclaim you know and love is staying the same, but with even more support around us: 📅 Same Reclaim product experience 🛣️ Same exciting product roadmap (with even more breadth) 🙌 More resources to build even faster 🧑💻 Same world-class customer support 👋 Same amazing team you know The Dropbox mission is to “design a more enlightened way of working” – a purpose that has been true to our hearts since Reclaim began in 2019. By joining forces, we get to support that mission by helping millions make time for what matters, as well as explore and test new ways we can use AI to improve the way we work. We want to thank our users and customers for all their support and feedback in helping to shape what Reclaim has become. Just five years ago, we were 2 people with little more than an idea and a few hundred early users. Today, Reclaim is one of the top AI scheduling apps in the market, with over 320,000 users across more than 43,000 companies – and is built and maintained by an amazing team of 22 relentless productivity experts. This is truly exciting news for both Reclaim and Dropbox users alike. We can’t wait to show you what’s coming next, and we’re looking forward to the next phase of this journey with you. Want to learn more? Check out the letter from our founders and an FAQ below. Letter from our founders: https://hubs.la/Q02LXNxl0 FAQ: https://hubs.la/Q02LXPBN0 Watch the video: https://hubs.la/Q02LXp2g0 _______ (Want to get your hands on Reclaim now? Sign up for a free plan, or use coupon code DROPBOX for 20% off Reclaim for the next 12 months.)

Dropbox has no future – Brandon M., April 2007. Fast forward to today: 👥 700 million users 💰 $2.6 billion in ARR 📂 Billions of files stored by its users Yet, 17 years ago, this Internet user dismissed Dropbox as "uninteresting" and "easy to create." 1️⃣ "Linux users can build this trivially with FTP and curlftpfs." → How often do we overlook the gap between technical possibility and mass-market usability? 2️⃣ "It doesn't replace a USB drive for offline access." → Can you spot when a product is solving a problem users don't yet realize they have? 3️⃣ "It doesn't seem very 'viral' or income-generating." → How many successful businesses started with unclear monetization strategies? Sound familiar? It echoes today's critiques of AI products, mostly made by engineers and developers: “It's just a GPT wrapper with a pretty interface.” Technically, it seems simple 🌈 Here's why this short-sighted view completely misses the mark: 🔍 Accessibility trumps technicality Technical possibility ≠ mass-market success. Dropbox made file syncing effortless for everyone, not just Linux gurus. 🔮 Foresight beats hindsight Dropbox didn't just replace USB drives; it changed how we think about file access. What future needs are today's critiqued products addressing? 🛠️ Execution excellence Ideas are cheap, implementation is everything, and tech is just one piece of the puzzle. How many "easy to create" products actually nail a sustainable economic model and user experience? Key takeaways: • Bridge the gap between technical capability and user-friendly design • Anticipate future needs, don't just meet and stick to current ones • Build products so good that business models can evolve around them When these elements combine with technology, the result is truly remarkable solutions! 💡 So next time, before dismissing an idea as "just a wrapper" or "easy to create", ask yourself: What potential am I overlooking? What's your take? Can you think of other "simple" ideas that became game-changers? 👇🏼💬

Dropbox nailed its MVP process. Core idea: Seamless file syncing Prototype: None. Sign-ups: 75,000 within 24 hours. What did they do? Dropbox released a straightforward explainer video demonstrating the product's potential which resonated HEAVILY with users and validated the product. It didn’t stop at the MVP. They continually iterated on their product based on user feedback, ensuring each update added value. What can first time founders learn from this? Dropbox zeroed in on solving a single and clear problem. Identify the core problem your product solves and build around that. Maintain clarity in your MVP’s purpose. Instead of a prototype Dropbox used a video. You don't need a full-code product to validate your idea. You can even use a no-code tool to build your first version. Capturing interest is important. Engage with your target audience early. Use their feedback to refine your product. And most importantly, Avoid feature bloat. Keep it simple and true to your core solution. P.S. Here's what an early version of Social Champ looked like:

A forgotten USB pen drive, and videos, built a company that’s worth $7.52 billion today. Here’s the story of how Dropbox came to be. In late 2006, Drew Houston, the co-founder of Dropbox but then a fresh computer science graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was taking a bus from Boston to New York. And as he started work on his laptop, he realized he had forgotten his USB pen drive at home. This motivated him to build a remote storage solution people can access online anytime and anywhere. And that led to the birth of Dropbox. Soon, it caught the attention of Y Combinator, helping Drew secure a seed funding of $1.2 million from Sequoia Capital in 2007 and officially launching Dropbox in 2008. But their meteoric rise came from a now famous screencast software demo video Drew made to show the working of Dropbox in its earlier stages. Using this video, Drew, along with his co-founder Arash Ferdowsi, expanded their waiting list of 5000 people to more than 200,000 sign-ups in a span of 10 days. Now, 16 years later, Dropbox is a key player in the file sharing software industry - Occupying 18.61% of the market in 2023, as per Statista - Gaining more than 700 million registered users - Generating $2.5 billion in annual revenue as of 2023 - Achieving a valuation of $7.52 billion What are your thoughts on Dropbox's amazing origin story? Do let us know in the comments. In the meantime, here’s one of their more recent videos that uses a combination of screencast and 3D animation to explain the USP of Dropbox.

🚀 From Simple MVP to Global Phenomenon: The Story of Dropbox 🚀 In the early 2000s, two friends, Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi, faced a common frustration: the hassle of syncing files between their computers. Determined to find a solution, they embarked on a journey that would eventually lead to the creation of one of the most iconic file-sharing platforms of our time: Dropbox. Armed with coding skills and a relentless drive, Drew and Arash developed a simple MVP (Minimum Viable Product) – a basic prototype designed to address their immediate needs. This crude yet functional file-sharing system allowed them to sync files effortlessly between their computers, laying the foundation for what would become Dropbox. Launching in 2007 with a limited beta version, Dropbox quickly gained traction, with users praising its ease of use and reliability. What started as a humble MVP evolved into a global phenomenon, empowering millions of individuals and businesses to collaborate more efficiently. The key to Dropbox's success? A relentless focus on the user experience. Drew and Arash understood that simplicity was paramount, and they kept refining and iterating their product to make it as intuitive and seamless as possible. Today, Dropbox is more than just a file-sharing platform – it's a comprehensive collaboration tool used by teams around the world. But at its core, it remains true to its origins – a user-friendly solution born out of frustration and brought to life through innovation and determination. As we celebrate the journey from MVP to global success, let's remember the power of simplicity and the importance of solving real-world problems. Here's to Dropbox – and to the endless possibilities that begin with a simple idea. #Dropbox #Innovation #MVP #TechStartup

How Dropbox went from a personal pain point to a $9.2B company that revolutionised cloud storage. Remember how frustrating it was to forget important files on a USB drive before cloud storage became a thing? Millennials and Gen X faced this all the time. That everyday hassle is what inspired Drew Houston to create Dropbox in 2007, and the rest is history. ▶ 2007 (Launch): Started with a small user base, mainly early adopters and beta testers. ▶ 2008: The viral demo video and referral program accelerated user sign-ups, leading to 100,000 users within a few months. ▶ 2010: Dropbox hit 4 million users. ▶ 2011: User base expanded to 50 million users. ▶ 2015: Reached 400 million registered users. ▶ 2018 (IPO year): Dropbox faced competition from services like Box, Google Drive, iCloud, and OneDrive. However, Dropbox stood out with its user-friendly interface and innovative marketing strategies. By 2018, Dropbox had a valuation of $9.2 billion and over 500 million users. 📈 Dropbox generated $2.5 billion in revenue in 2023. Dropbox has a large customer base, with over 700 million registered users and 18.22 million paying users as of August 2024. 🗒 Key Takeaways for Product Managers and Founders: Solve Real Problems: Focus on addressing practical, everyday pain points. Prioritize Simplicity: A user-friendly interface is crucial for adoption and retention. Iterate Fast: Continuously improve based on user feedback and early testing. Viral Growth Hacks: Use low-cost, viral strategies like referral programs to scale quickly. Freemium Model: Offer value upfront for free, then monetize through premium features. Long-Term Vision: Dropbox turned down acquisition offers, including from Steve Jobs, to grow independently. Focus on long-term growth and stick to your vision. 👇 Share your most powerful growth hack in the comments! #dropboxjourney #painproblem #growth #referralprogram #productmanagement #startupgrowth #freemiummodel #founderjourney 

Dropbox spent 112,500,000 on sales and marketing in Q2 and they only added $17M in net new ARR They're at a $2.57B ARR run rate. That’s up just 3% YoY. Growth has really stalled for Dropbox over the last few years. They’ve only had 2 quarters of double digit ARR in the last 11 As you’d expect based on this GTM efficiency is not good. Magic number of 0.12 And CAC payback of 122 months But they’re generating really healthy profits. Net profit margins of 17.4% 35% FCF margins - with $224M of free cash flow in Q2 And almost $1M per employee in ARR. That’s Microsoft level efficiency. Box - is a company that plays in a very similar space to Dropbox and as we saw a couple of weeks ago their ARR growth has also stalled. These companies are likely the victims of the bundling approach to storage - where Google and Microsoft give this away essentially to business and consumer users. Not sure there is a clear path back to high levels of growth for dropbox and that’s reflected in their ARR multiple - trading at just 3.3X ARR right now. 

How do you launch a new product or feature without cannibalizing your existing product experience? There are interesting answers from looking at Dropbox 📦 Before founding the billing ops platform Maple, Ruchi Varshney played a key part in shifting Dropbox from being a single-product company to having a product portfolio. 𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 $𝟮 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 🤩 They wanted to create and capture additional value but moving to a portfolio of products couldn’t come at the expense of the core experience. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗺𝗮… The core product surfaces were an unbelievable top-of-funnel opportunity for new products Millions of users flowed through every day But those users came with a clear job to be done Bombarding them with lots of new, different features would cannibalize these core flows They had to stay true to the user 𝗦𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵… They wanted to ensure that new products had progressed in terms of their own adoption outside of affecting core funnels first This might sound counterintuitive when you have a 600m user base But you don’t want that traffic to go to the product when the product itself is not ready for that kind of usage They looked for non-core flows where there were high context triggers for these new products Then they would iterate on these products to get them to the required solution-fit This way they could make sure these products were solving real issues on their own before funnelling major traffic to them --- This is part 2️⃣1️⃣ of our 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 Sharing stories from amazing product builders: Designers, PMs, Data Scientists, Engineers About lessons they've learned on how to communicate better

"Once upon a time, Dropbox had its humble beginnings in a Boston train station when I forgot my USB stick at home." - Drew Houston, CEO & founder of Dropbox. My next chapter of my next book, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, is on communication, and in each chapter I start it with a story about an innovator or a startup. I chose to write about Drew and Dropbox because of a few pivotal moments that I find fascinating. We take file syncing for granted now as it is default across so many services, but at the time, it didn't exist in the way Drew imagined it. 1. Drew was a single founder on his Y Combinator application, which is rare. His application was clearly written and easy to understand. 2. When he posted about Dropbox on Y Combinator's Hacker News, he got a blistering response about how everyone can already do it on Linux with FTP, how people won't use it, and trashed the income strategy. 3. Created a video explainer which explodes their waiting list from 5,000 to 75,000 in one day (March 2008). 4. Their cost per user acquisition was somewhere between $233-$388 for a $99 product. The typical Dropbox user was saying "I didn't realize I needed this". Their referral program got 2.8 million direct referral invites, and they grew to 4,000,000 users by 2010. Ten years later, Dropbox hit one billion dollars in revenue. Below is an image from their explainer video, a reminder for how clear and simple they communicated about their product. I hope you found this story inspirational on your innovation journey. Cheers, Ron =D