Revolutionizing Collaboration: The Mattermost Journey to Secure Communication Solutions
Company profile
Company business details
Motivation to build the product
The founders were motivated by the need for secure and reliable communication tools in enterprise environments, particularly as remote work became more prevalent. They recognized that existing proprietary solutions did not offer the level of control and customization that organizations required.Problem that their product solves
Mattermost solves the problem of secure and reliable communication for organizations, particularly in sectors like technology, finance, and government. The end users are teams within these organizations who need a robust platform for collaboration, especially in remote work settings. Solving this problem is crucial for maintaining productivity and security in communication.Their unfair advantage
Mattermost's unfair advantage lies in its open-source nature, allowing organizations to customize their collaboration tools and maintain control over their data, unlike proprietary solutions.Strategies
Pre-Launch (Product Development & MVP)
Open Source Development
Ian Tien and his team at Mattermost decided to open source their messaging platform after experiencing frustrations with a previous tool that lost their data. They built Mattermost as an open source alternative to Slack, allowing users to control their own data and customize the platform to their needs. This decision was influenced by advice from a fellow entrepreneur at Y Combinator, who suggested that if the open source project gained traction, they could always choose to monetize it later. This approach not only validated their product but also attracted a community of developers who contributed to its growth.
Launch Stage
Customer-Centric Development
During the launch stage, Ian emphasized the importance of talking to customers to understand their needs. He implemented a feedback loop where potential customers could express their requirements and pain points through a contact form on their website. This direct communication led to valuable insights, such as the need for specific features like data privacy and SSO capabilities. By prioritizing customer feedback, Mattermost was able to build a product that directly addressed market demands, leading to early customer acquisition.
Growth Stage
Community Engagement and Contribution
Mattermost fostered a strong community by encouraging contributions from developers around the world. They provided clarity on how to get involved, offering a backlog of tickets for contributors to work on. This approach not only helped in building the product but also created a sense of ownership among contributors. For instance, a developer from South America contributed a significant translation infrastructure for the platform, which led to their hiring. This strategy of leveraging community contributions played a crucial role in scaling the product and enhancing its features.
Referral-Based Hiring
To build a strong team, Mattermost relied heavily on referrals, with 56% of their hires coming from employee recommendations. This strategy ensured that new hires were not only skilled but also aligned with the company culture. Ian emphasized the importance of creating a positive work environment where employees enjoyed their roles, which in turn motivated them to refer talented individuals from their networks. This approach helped Mattermost maintain a cohesive team while scaling rapidly.
Podcast Marketing
Dan Balcauski launched the SaaS Scaling Secrets podcast to share insights and strategies for scaling B2B SaaS companies. By interviewing successful SaaS CEOs like Ian Tien, the podcast provides valuable content that resonates with the target audience of entrepreneurs and business leaders. This strategy not only builds a community around the podcast but also positions Dan as a thought leader in the SaaS space, driving engagement and interest in his own business, Product Tranquility. The podcast serves as a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences, which can attract potential clients and partners.
Learn more about Mattermost
Ian Tien - CEO & Co-Founder of Mattermost | Open Source Platforms vs Closed Source Platforms
