This Week in Startups E1008: VSCO CEO & Co-founder Joel Flory is building a photo-sharing platform free of ads, likes & comments to empower creators, shares insights on appealing to Gen Z, expanding their global reach & the magic of subscriptions
Dec 10, 2019
Joel Flory, the Co-founder and CEO of VSCO, shares insights on creating a photo-sharing platform that prioritizes creativity over likes and comments. He discusses how VSCO attracts Gen Z users willing to pay for a unique social network experience. Flory reveals the impact of the 'VSCO girl' trend and the company's innovative subscription model. He reflects on lessons learned during VSCO's journey, the challenges of inappropriate content management, and the importance of building a supportive community in the evolving digital landscape.
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VSCO's Unique Focus
- VSCO prioritizes self-expression, enabling users to share their unique worldview.
- It contrasts with platforms like Instagram, which focus on external validation.
Growth Without Addiction
- VSCO intentionally avoids addictive features like likes and comments to foster genuine engagement.
- This approach prioritizes organic growth driven by user value and word-of-mouth.
VSCO's Subscriber Growth
- VSCO has over 20 million weekly active users, with over 2 million paid subscribers.
- Surprisingly, over 55% of paid subscribers are under 25, challenging assumptions about young people's willingness to pay for social networks.
