a16z Podcast How Discord Became a Developer Platform
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May 10, 2024 
Jason Citron, co-founder and CEO of Discord, shares his journey from game developer to leading a platform with over 200 million users. Alongside Anjney Midha, former head of Discord's developer platform, they discuss the shift from gamer to developer, emphasizing community-driven innovation. The duo reveals insights on Discord's new embeddable apps, the evolution of cross-platform experiences, and how Discord fosters creativity among developers. Expect a future filled with unique gaming experiences shaped by generative AI and innovative tools!
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Discord's Origin
- Jason Citron's vision for Discord stemmed from his gaming background and the hunch that multiplayer gaming would become even bigger.
- He aimed to create a communication app spanning all platforms, recognizing gaming's increasing cross-platform nature.
Player to Developer
- Citron's shift from player to developer began with childhood gaming experiences and learning to code.
- This led to building OpenFeint, a social network for mobile gaming, after his first game, Aurora Feint, took off.
Infrastructure Focus
- Citron realized the importance of infrastructure in real-time multiplayer gaming through his game development attempts.
- He leveraged this experience to build tools for others, culminating in Discord, a major communication platform.