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Vishu Bheda

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Medial • 2h

The greatest accident in startup history: A gaming studio built a simple chat tool to solve their own problem. 8 years later, Salesforce bought it for $27.7 Billion. Here's how a side project saved a failing company and changed work forever: In 2012, a small gaming studio called Tiny Speck was struggling. Their online game Glitch wasn’t doing well, and money was running out. On top of that, their team was spread across different time zones, making communication difficult. To solve this, they built a simple chat tool for their internal use. It had just two basic features: Channels: Separate chat spaces for different topics, teams, or projects. This kept conversations organized. File Sharing: A way to easily upload and share documents, images, or code within chats. At first, it was just a small fix for their team. But soon, they noticed something surprising. They started using the tool for everything—work updates, coding discussions, even casual conversations. It made teamwork so much smoother that they realized they had built something more valuable than their game. In 2013, they made a bold decision: shut down their gaming studio and focus entirely on this chat tool. They named it Slack—which stands for "Searchable Log of All Communication and Knowledge." At first, people doubted them. A gaming company shifting to workplace software? It sounded risky. But they were ahead of the curve. Remote work was becoming more common, and email was overwhelming. Companies needed better tools for communication. Slack stood out because it wasn’t just functional—it was fun and engaging: Quick replies made work feel fast and responsive. Emojis and playful design made communication enjoyable. Channels created a sense of teamwork and belonging. The result? Explosive growth. Here’s the lesson: Sometimes, your side project is your real opportunity. Stay observant—your next big idea might already be in front of you. If you found this helpful then follow me for more amazing content!

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