Learning from experiments at IMVU
James Birchler (@JamesBirchler) Engineering Director, IMVU SLLCONF, San Francisco, MAY 23, 2011

$ IMVU Revenue Growth Qtr
Q1'06 Q2'06 Q3'06 Q4'06 Q1'07 Q2'07 Q3'07 Q4'07 Q1'08 Q2'08 Q3'08 Q4'08 Q1'09 Q2'09 Q3'09 Q4'09

$ IMVU Revenue Growth Qtr
Q1'06 Q2'06 Q3'06 Q4'06 Q1'07 Q2'07 Q3'07 Q4'07 Q1'08 Q2'08 Q3'08 Q4'08 Q1'09 Q2'09 Q3'09 Q4'09

Ask Question Got Do Research
Hypothesis Science? Test Analyze Data Conclusion Report Results

Question Results Research Scientific Conclusion
Method Hypothesis Analyze Data Test

Question Results Research Scientific #leanstartup
Conclusion Method Hypothesis Analyze Data Test

Question Results Research Quack. Scientific
#leanstartup Conclusion Method Hypothesis Analyze Data Test An Alleged “duck”

Experimentation
IS GOOD

RIGHT?

Culture

@copernicus

@copernicus
#inquisition

@copernicus

@Giordano_Bruno

@Giordano_Bruno

@Galileo

@Galileo

@Jamesbirchler

Okay, I’ll run an Okay,
I’ll run an Okay, I’ll run an experiment! Okay, I’ll run experiment! Okay, I’ll run an experiment! experiment experiment! Okay, I’ll run an experiment! Let’s make that Okay, I’ll run an easy to do! Okay, I’ll run an experiment! Prove your idea experiment! is the best!

Keep it
simple

if( setup_experiment(...) == "control" )
{ // do it the old way } else { // do it the new way Simple To code }

Simple
To manage

Simple
To share

embrace
failure

Freedom
to
Experiment

What could possibly go wrong?

simple
to
Screw up

X
X

Recap…

We’re Hiring!
www.imvu.com/jobs

credits Thanks