We realized that existing communication tools like TeamSpeak and Skype were not effectively serving the gaming market, which created an opportunity for Discord.

We realized pretty quickly that even though we focused on specific games, people were using Discord for all kinds of multiplayer gaming.

Discord became popular among gamers because it allows easy communication through voice channels, making it more efficient than previous methods like Skype or phone calls. I had a Discord server with close to half a million people, where they could engage with each other and share memes, creating a community around a common interest.

We saw Twitch streamers using Discord, which helped it spread quickly into different aspects of their lives.

The launch of Discord coincided with the rise of WebRTC technology, which allowed us to reduce friction and improve interoperability in our communication platform.

The breakthrough for Discord's growth came from inviting users to provide feedback rather than just promoting the app, which helped build a community.

The initial thesis for Discord was that a durable gaming company needed an established distribution advantage, leading to the creation of a group chat app for gamers.

We built Discord with customization capabilities, allowing users to connect to external data sources, which turned out to be beneficial for various applications.

When we pivoted to Discord, half of our team thought it was a horrible idea, and one employee even quit through a Post-it note, showing the skepticism we faced.