He quit his cozy Google job & ignored lean startup advice— then grew to $3M in 1 year. | Arvind Jain, Founder of Glean
Apr 29, 2024
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Arvind Jain, Founder of Glean, defied lean startup advice and grew the company to $3M in revenue in just 1 year. He didn't follow traditional MVP, ignored market feedback, and didn't charge beta users for 2 years. With conviction and persistence, Arvind tripled revenue each year, reaching $200M funding at a $2B valuation. His advice for founders is to know when to follow the playbook and when to write your own.
Founder's advice: have conviction and persistence in startup journey.
Transitioning from Google to successful startups highlights significance of tackling challenges.
Glean's success stems from aligning vision with user needs and technological advancements.
Deep dives
The Importance of Conviction and Persistence in Founding Startups
Having conviction and persistence is crucial for founders. The key advice is to focus on solving a problem without being deterred by market size or competitors. Upholding belief in the solution, despite potential doubts, is vital. The speaker emphasizes that staying committed to the vision is paramount, even amidst challenges and uncertainties.
Evolution from Google to Founding Startups
The guest, a former Google distinguished engineer, transitioned from optimizing Google's search speed to launching successful startups. Starting with Rubrik and moving on to Glean, a recent IPO filing worth billions, reflects a journey marked by significant achievements. Despite the comfort at Google, the decision to dive into entrepreneurial ventures stemmed from a desire to tackle meaningful problems and seek new challenges.
Identifying and Addressing Information Retrieval Challenges
At Rubrik, information fragmentation hindered productivity, sparking the need for efficient data retrieval solutions. Detecting a shared struggle across industries in locating relevant information, the concept gained traction. Conversations with other companies confirmed this widespread issue, piquing interest in creating an innovative platform. Equipped with a robust engineering team and strategic approach, addressing data accessibility barriers became a focal point.
Evolving Search Technology and Ensuring Market Reception
Leveraging advanced language models and semantic search capabilities, Glean's technology addressed complex information retrieval needs effectively. The initial emphasis on semantic understanding and user engagement aligned with evolving search trends. Despite challenges in data access and security, integrating cutting-edge AI played a crucial role in enhancing search efficiencies. Continuous technological advancements propelled user adoption and cemented Glean's position in the market.
Transitioning from Problem Identification to Market Cultivation
By exemplifying persistence, conviction, and a deep understanding of user needs, founders can navigate challenges and drive product adoption. Glean's evolution from problem-solving to market acceptance highlights the transformative power of aligning vision with user demands. Balancing innovation with market cultivation, the journey from problem identification to widespread market adoption underscores the significance of belief and perseverance in entrepreneurial endeavors.
Arvind founded 2 billion-dollar startups—by doing everything lean startup tells you not to do.
- He didn’t focus on launching an MVP. - He ignored early market feedback. - He didn’t charge beta users anything— for 2 years.
And it worked.
He went from $0 to $3M in revenue the year he launched publicly. He tripled to about $9M the year after. And tripled every year since.
Two months ago, Glean raised $200M at a $2B valuation.
Why you should listen: - Learn exactly how outlier founder Arvind Jain does things differently at the 0 to 1 stage. - Why he thinks conviction and persistence are the most important qualities founders need. - When you should follow playbooks and when to write your own. - Why it might not matter that most people don't "get" your idea in the early days.
Timestamps: (2:02) Leaving Google (3:39) Coming up with Glean (7:47) Building a Product in a Neglected Space (11:38) Skipping Lean Startup (14:11) Using design partners (16:13) Building for 2 years, with 0 revenue (20:13) When it's time to launch (21:12) Why AI was a key tailwind (26:25) Finding Product Market Fit on Day One (27:32) One Piece of Advice