The Power of a Small Team: Achieving Impact and Building Networks

The Power of a Small Team: Achieving Impact and Building Networks

In the world of business and technology, there is often an assumption that success is directly correlated with the size of a team. The more people you have working on a project, the greater the potential for success. However, this belief is not always true, as demonstrated by two notable examples: Pocket and Snapchat. These companies have shown that a small team can have a significant impact and bootstrap a network by focusing on high-value use cases.

Pocket, a popular app for saving articles and videos to read later, is a prime example of how a small team can achieve remarkable success. Despite having only 20 employees, Pocket has managed to amass 20 million users. Nate Weiner, the founder of Pocket, initially doubted the need for a large team. He questioned what a team of 60 people, like Evernote, could possibly work on that one person couldn't handle. Weiner realized that a smaller team forced them to stay focused on what was critically important. With fewer resources, Pocket's team had to prioritize tasks and avoid distractions. This razor focus allowed them to concentrate on their core mission and deliver a product that users love.

Furthermore, Pocket's small team size enabled them to cultivate a strong company culture. Weiner understood that culture is not just a vague concept but a reflection of the founder's personality traits. By keeping the team small, Weiner was able to foster trust, scrappiness, and ownership within the company. He likened it to making a stew, where a few choice ingredients simmer together to create a unique flavor. This approach allowed Pocket to form bonds and a common worldview more quickly, unencumbered by complex hierarchies. Additionally, being small enabled Pocket to involve people outside their organization, simplifying processes and making it easier for everyone to participate.

The concept of focusing on the highest value use case to bootstrap a network is also exemplified by Snapchat. In its early days, Snapchat was often ridiculed as a "sexting" app. However, this controversial use case actually served as a catalyst for the app's growth. By targeting a niche audience with a high-value need for privacy, Snapchat was able to attract early adopters and build a strong user base. Once critical mass was achieved, Snapchat could then expand its use case to become a mainstream platform for ephemeral photo and video sharing.

This approach applies not only to consumer apps but also to building peer-to-peer networks. To create a successful network, it is crucial to identify a use case that offers significant value to a small group of users, even if it may not appeal to the mainstream at first. By winning over this high-value user base, you lay the foundation for future growth and the opportunity to go mainstream. This strategy requires a deep understanding of the target audience and the ability to provide a solution that meets their specific needs.