Vlad Magdalin, CEO of Webflow will share the experience of building, scaling, and evolving company and the lessons and mistakes he made along the way.

1. Building an Enduring Company,
One Hard Lesson at a Time
Vlad Magdalin
Co-founder & CEO
Webflow
@callmevlad
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3. ● Fail #1 (2005) – Going solo while in college.
○ Couldn’t find funding, decided to go work full-time at Intuit.
● Fail #2 (2007) – Started with 2 friends at Intuit.
○ Couldn’t raise funding while moonlighting + trademark fail.
● Fail #3 (2008) – Build solo again while moonlighting.
○ Had kids + day job, hard to stay focused. Browser tech not ready.
● Not-yet-fail #1 (2012) – Started with brother and co-worker.
○ Chrome / Safari finally mature enough to build an in-browser app.
Webflow took 4 attempts...
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4. TIMING MATTERS
(Also, co-founders matter even more.)
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5. Quit our jobs, and off to the races...
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6. Cash runs out, reality sets in...
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7. (Also, read the &@#$ Terms of Service!)
DON’T WASTE CASH
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8. Let’s give this one last shot...
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9. TRACTION = LIFE
(Also, survivorship bias is a hell of a drug.)
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10. Things are finally looking up...
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11. DREAM BIG,
SHIP OFTEN
(Also, charge for your product sooner
than you’re comfortable with!) Do not place text, or graphics
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12. Time to raise some money...
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13. Do the usual startup things...
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14. Uh oh, cash is running out again...
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15. REVENUE = FREEDOM
(Nothing like being in control of your
own destiny as a company.) Do not place text, or graphics
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16. Do not place text, or graphics
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17. Building an enduring company...
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18. With true partners...
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19. IT’S ALL ABOUT
PEOPLE
(Also, defend your values — and choose
to work with people who share them.) Do not place text, or graphics
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20. Do not place text, or graphics
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21. In order to build a sustainable and enduring company, these principles have
helped guide me personally:
1. Get to “default alive” as quickly as possible – revenue and cash flow helps
you be in control of your own destiny; spend it wisely
2. Choose your partners wisely – never compromise on your values, and
recognize that true partners amplify; they don’t manipulate
3. It’s all about people – you’re serving not just the people who use/buy your
product, but also the people who form your team
My Top Takeaways
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22. THANK YOU
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