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Atmrix

About

BD

Brian Donohue

11/14/18

@ Y Combinator

I focus on building a product that is simple for the majority of users while hiding advanced features for power users who seek them out.

Video

YC

Brian Donohue on Operating Instapaper Through an Acquisition

@ Y Combinator

Brian Donohue on Operating Instapaper Through an Acquisition

11/14/18

Related Takeaways

YC

Y Combinator Cast

04/18/24

@ Y Combinator

Founders should focus on building the simplest viable product to learn from users rather than getting bogged down in complex plans.

AS

Aravind Srinivas

02/22/25

@ Y Combinator

I deliberately designed our product with attention to detail, ensuring that I am the primary user, which helps in creating a better experience.

BD

Brian Donohue

11/14/18

@ Y Combinator

I prioritize user requests when building our product roadmap, focusing on features that users want and that provide a competitive advantage.

WV

Werner Vogels

11/12/18

@ Y Combinator

When launching new products, we focus on a minimal feature set to ensure reliability, then iterate based on customer usage and feedback.

KH

Kevin Hale

03/25/17

@ Y Combinator

Make your product easy to use as the primary focus, and add polish and humor only after ensuring functionality is solid.

KH

Kevin Hale

03/25/17

@ Y Combinator

To bridge the knowledge gap for users, we focused on reducing the complexity of our application rather than adding new features, which often increases the knowledge required to use it.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

10/07/23

@ Y Combinator

Pre-product market fit, I need to be as accessible and close to my customers as possible, rather than getting bogged down in complex systems and documentation.

BB

Bob Baxley

06/12/25

@ Lenny's Podcast

Every interaction with software should start simple, allowing users to opt into complexity, which is crucial for creating a user-friendly experience.

HI

Harvard Innovation Labs Cast

06/12/13

@ Harvard Innovation Labs

When starting with a minimum viable product, it's crucial to progressively disclose features to avoid overwhelming users with a steep learning curve.