KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

Startups often make the mistake of trying to emulate other companies; instead, they should do the opposite of what competitors are doing.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

I realized that many project management tools are slow, which led us to focus on building a tool that is never slow.

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

Quality in product development often suffers because companies prioritize task completion over quality; we need to incentivize quality work.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

From my childhood, I developed a love for computers and design, which started when I was five years old and wanted to play games on a Commodore 64.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

I noticed design flaws from a young age, like when I was seven and couldn't understand why bike designs were unattractive; this sparked my interest in design as a career.

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

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.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

I believe in the power of small teams; they can execute projects more effectively without the dilution of culture that comes with rapid team growth.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

I believe in starting with a small team to maintain focus and quality in product development.

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.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

I believe that the productivity of any company comes from the individual contributors, so our tools should be optimized to help them work more effectively.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

We learned that the speed of our tool was a critical factor for users, as almost everyone expressed frustration with slow project management tools.

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

We wanted to create a project management tool that is not only functional but also exciting, breaking the mold of traditional tools that users find boring.

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

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

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

When building a product, it's crucial to identify who genuinely likes it and understand their reasons.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

Startups shouldn't try to boil the ocean; instead, focus on solving a specific problem effectively.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

The best approach is to design something for a specific user rather than trying to cater to everyone.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

It's important to have a clear narrative and values that resonate with your audience to build a strong brand.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

Quality should be prioritized over speed and scale; maintaining high standards is essential for long-term success.

KS

Karri Saarinen

06/05/25

@ FirstRoundCapital

I think the most impactful lesson from Y Combinator is to focus on making something people want.

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

Takeaways