a16z Podcast Grant Lee: Building Gamma’s AI Presentation Company to 100 Million Users
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Nov 11, 2025 
Grant Lee, Co-founder and CEO of Gamma, shares his journey from a harsh investor rejection to building an AI presentation platform with 100 million users. He discusses how focusing on user experience and design helped Gamma outperform giants like Microsoft and Google. Grant reveals the importance of empathy in product design, the challenges of automating presentations, and his unique growth strategies, including prioritizing prosumer engagement before tackling enterprise sales. A fascinating dive into innovation and resilience!
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Investor Hung Up Calling It The Worst Idea
- Grant Lee recounts an investor hanging up and calling Gamma “the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”
- That rejection made him double down on product-led growth and nailing the first 30 seconds of user experience.
Start With One-Button AI Experiences
- Keep AI entry points simple because most users are in the 'one-button' era.
- Observe user behavior to evolve complexity gradually.
Be Different Not Just Better
- Gamma chose to be different, not just incrementally better than slideware locked to 16:9.
- Redefining primitives (mobile, interactive, multimedia) made creation fast for non-designers.