Designing a better reading experience with Matter: The story of Atrium

Designing a better reading experience with Matter: The story of Atrium

In the world of online reading, there are several behaviors that come into play - deciding what to read, the act of reading itself, and what you do with the knowledge gained after reading. For many years, read-it-later apps have been a popular choice among readers, allowing them to save articles and content for later consumption. However, the first generation of these apps lacked certain features such as prioritization, resurfacing, and decay.

Recognizing the need for a smarter read-it-later app, the founders of Matter, both avid Pocket users, set out to create a platform that would address these shortcomings. They understood the importance of focusing on needs that won't change, a principle highlighted by Jeff Bezos. The supply of great content will continue to rise, attention will always be scarce, and the returns to making good decisions about what to read will remain high over time.

Trust is a crucial factor when it comes to deciding what to read, and people trust people. With this in mind, Matter made the conscious decision to elevate writers as first-class citizens in their system. They understood the value of good curation, as it helps uncover hidden gems that may be overlooked by engagement-based algorithms.

One common bias in our information consumption is the overwhelming focus on what's new. While staying up-to-date is important, it's equally important to recognize that some of the best content ever created was not written in the past week. Matter aims to serve as a counterweight to this bias, ensuring that readers have access to a wide range of content, both old and new.

Another aspect that Matter addresses is the reading experience itself. While email inboxes have become a hub for newsletters and other forms of content, they are not ideal for reading. Most people want to breeze through their inbox quickly, not spend more time there. Matter solves this problem by providing a dedicated platform for reading, where users can highlight and annotate as they go.

The team at Matter understands that consumer behavior is evolving, and audio has become an increasingly popular mode of content consumption. To cater to this trend, they introduced a feature called "audio highlights" that allows users to highlight content while listening without having to open their phones.

Furthermore, Matter incorporates innovative features such as minimaps, inspired by video games and code editors. These minimaps provide users with a miniature version of the article, allowing them to scan headers and navigate quickly.

Matter's core users are what they call "active" readers. These users are intentional about what they read and actively curate their information diets. They often have favorite writers and subscribe to newsletters, frequently exploring obscure blogs. Matter's goal is to increase the return on investment of reading, helping users gain more insight, knowledge, and thrill from the time they invest in reading.

While Matter focuses on improving the reading experience, another startup, Atrium, had a different journey. Atrium's founder, Justin, experienced personal growth and success through startups but recognized that they are not for everyone at every time in their lives.

Atrium initially experienced rapid growth, but Justin admits that they made mistakes in their hiring strategy. They prioritized acquiring customers without fully understanding their product, resulting in a lack of differentiation in the market. Additionally, the rushed hiring process prevented the establishment of a cohesive company culture, leading to friction between the co-founders.

As Atrium faced challenges, Justin took responsibility for the failures, acknowledging that they were reflective of his shortcomings rather than those of his co-founders or investors. He realized that the company lacked support and that he had not set his co-founders up for success.

The lack of a clear direction and purpose caused Atrium to lose co-founders, friends, and customers. The company became a leaky bucket, and Justin himself realized that he had little interest in the legal service and legal tech industry. The company struggled to identify its target audience, a major red flag that hindered its growth.

Despite the hardships faced by Atrium, Justin emphasizes that failure does not define a person. How one deals with failure and finds what's truly important is what matters in the end. Through tough times, individuals can discover strengths they never knew they had and find internal sources of motivation and meaning. Learning to love oneself and extend compassion to others creates a positive feedback loop that impacts those around them.

In conclusion, both Matter and Atrium have valuable lessons to offer. Matter focuses on improving the reading experience, emphasizing the importance of trust, curation, and a balanced approach to consuming new and old content. On the other hand, Atrium's story highlights the significance of a clear vision, product differentiation, and a supportive and cohesive company culture.

Three actionable advice:

1. Prioritize needs that won't change: When designing a product or service, focus on addressing fundamental needs that will remain relevant over time. This ensures long-term value for users.

2. Incorporate innovative features: Continuously explore new ways to enhance the user experience. Consider features like audio highlights, minimaps, and other creative solutions that make content consumption more engaging and efficient.

3. Foster a supportive and cohesive culture: Building a successful startup requires more than just hiring talented individuals. Take the time to establish a shared vision, set clear goals, and support your team members to create a positive and productive work environment.

In the ever-evolving landscape of online reading and startups, it is essential to learn from both successes and failures. By incorporating the lessons from Matter and Atrium, we can strive to create better experiences for readers and build resilient companies that thrive in the face of challenges.