Unthinkable with Jay Acunzo
Slingshot: A Side Project Saved My Startup [Creativity Series #15]
Sep 11, 2016
Crew co-founder and CEO Mikael Cho shares the story of how a creative side project, Unsplash.com, saved his startup from bankruptcy. They discuss the power of side projects in driving business growth, the strength of constraints in creative projects, and the unexpected success of Unsplash in attracting customers and talent.
08:17
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Quick takeaways
- Side projects can save struggling startups by creating value and attracting paying customers.
- Embracing constraints can drive creativity and innovation, simplifying projects and leading to unique opportunities.
Deep dives
The Birth of Unsplash
Mikhail Cho, the co-founder and CEO of Crew, faced financial constraints when their core business was struggling. In an effort to create value and promote their services, they decided to give away excess stock photos from a website revamp. With minimal investment and promotion, they launched Unsplash on Hacker News. Despite initial skepticism, Unsplash gained traction, receiving 20,000 downloads in the first day alone. The project also led to a significant increase in paying customers for Crew, with side projects accounting for half of their business.
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