Yesterday Podcast Spenser Skates | Failed Startup to $300M in Revenue
Aug 15, 2025
Spenser Skates, founder and CEO of Amplitude, shares his unique journey from feeling mediocre to building a public company generating over $300M in revenue. He reflects on his upbringing in Boston, the influence of his immigrant parents, and the early failures of his first startup, Sonalight. Spenser credits mentorship from industry leaders and discusses pivotal moments in scaling Amplitude, including overcoming operational setbacks and learning the art of sales. His insights on risk-taking, long-term perseverance, and emotional resilience provide valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
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Immigrant Parents Shaped A Curious Childhood
- Spenser grew up in Boston with immigrant parents from Malaysia and Australia and was exposed to academic, biostatistics-focused household influence.
- His mother steered him toward arts and diverse cultural experiences, which he now values despite wishing he'd done more math earlier.
From Halo To Crew — Unexpected Preparation
- In high school Spencer played Halo competitively, ran nerd clubs, and unexpectedly joined crew for two years to build intensity and discipline.
- He entered MIT despite not being top of his class and leveraged tests and extracurriculars to stand out.
Deliberate Practice Created Breakthrough Momentum
- Battlecode gave Spencer a place to pursue deliberate practice and visible recognition among elite peers.
- Winning it convinced him he could become top-tier by focusing intensely on one craft.
