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KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

We focused on user research to understand the frustrations people had with existing tools, which helped us refine our vision for Linear.

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Inside Linear: Why craft and focus still win in product building | Karri Saarinen (Co-founder & CEO)

@ FirstRoundCapital

Inside Linear: Why craft and focus still win in product building | Karri Saarinen (Co-founder & CEO)

06/05/25

Related Takeaways

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

We initially built Linear for ourselves, focusing on creating a tool that we would want to use daily, which helped us define our product's features.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

At Linear, we focus on building tools specifically for product software companies, especially early-stage startups, to ensure we meet their unique needs.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

Our early version of Linear was well-crafted enough to share with friends, and we were eager to get feedback to ensure it resonated with potential users.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

Before founding Linear, I was a founding designer at Coinbase and a principal designer at Airbnb, where I learned the importance of building tools that are fast and efficient.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

We built Linear with a local-first architecture, allowing for a faster user experience by syncing data directly to the client, avoiding the delays of traditional web apps.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

When we started Linear, we aimed to connect the highest level of company goals to day-to-day work, making it more meaningful for everyone involved.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

The decision to commit to building Linear came after months of research and discussions with my co-founders, culminating in a commitment to start full-time in March 2019.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

The experience of working at Coinbase and Airbnb taught me how different companies operate and the common challenges they face, which informs how we build Linear.

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Tiffani

09/18/18

@ Y Combinator

We started doing user research in earnest, which opened our minds to the entire world of urban planning we now work in.