How Atlanta’s Calendly turned a scheduling nightmare into a $3B startup – TechCrunch

How Atlanta’s Calendly turned a scheduling nightmare into a $3B startup – TechCrunch

Calendly, a scheduling tool, has become a highly successful startup, with a valuation of $3 billion. The company has been profitable for years, but its growth has accelerated in the past twelve months, thanks to the changing way we live. With 10 million monthly users, a 1,180% growth rate in the past year, and $70 million in annual subscription revenues, Calendly is on track to reach $1 billion in aggregated revenues soon.

The founder of Calendly, Tope Awotona, created the tool out of personal frustration. He needed a way to schedule meetings efficiently, but existing products didn't meet his needs. Some required immediate subscription commitments, while others were designed for specific industries like beauty salons. Recognizing the opportunity to solve this problem, Awotona developed Calendly as a freemium service that caters to a wide range of users.

Looking ahead, Calendly plans to expand its offerings beyond scheduling. Awotona envisions developing tools for following up on meetings and planning recurring events. As a black tech founder, Awotona has also noticed increased recognition in recent years and hopes to inspire other young black individuals in the industry.

Study shows that students learn more when taking part in classrooms that employ active-learning strategies

A study has revealed that students learn more effectively when they participate in classrooms that utilize active-learning strategies. While students may feel like they learn more through traditional lectures, the study found that their actual learning is enhanced when they actively engage with the material.

This finding highlights the importance of the information retrieval process in learning. To truly understand and retain concepts, students need to be actively involved in the learning process. Merely listening to lectures does not lead to optimal learning outcomes.

Interestingly, the study also discovered a disconnect between actual learning and the perception of learning. Students often rate lecturers highly based on their feeling of learning, even though their actual learning may not be optimal. This may explain why student evaluations do not always align with measurable learning outcomes.

Incorporating active-learning strategies in classrooms can help bridge this gap between perceived and actual learning. By encouraging students to actively participate, whether through discussions, problem-solving activities, or group work, educators can enhance the learning experience and improve knowledge retention.

Common Points and Insights

Both the success of Calendly and the study on active-learning strategies emphasize the importance of addressing frustrations and finding innovative solutions. Calendly was born out of the founder's personal need to simplify scheduling, while the study highlights the limitations of traditional lecture-based learning.

In both cases, recognizing the opportunity to improve existing processes led to significant advancements. Calendly filled a gap in the market by offering a user-friendly scheduling tool, while active-learning strategies provide a more effective approach to education.

The success of Calendly also highlights the potential for growth in the software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry. With its freemium model and continuous innovation, Calendly has achieved profitability and attracted a large user base. This demonstrates the value of developing user-centered solutions and constantly evolving to meet changing needs.

Actionable Advice

1. Embrace frustration as an opportunity: Frustration can be a catalyst for innovation. If you encounter a problem or inconvenience in your personal or professional life, consider how it could be addressed. Look for opportunities to create solutions that simplify processes and improve experiences.

2. Incorporate active-learning strategies: If you're an educator, explore ways to incorporate active-learning strategies into your teaching methods. Encourage student participation, provide opportunities for collaboration, and design activities that promote critical thinking and problem-solving. By actively engaging students, you can enhance their learning outcomes.

3. Focus on user-centered solutions: Whether you're developing a product or service, prioritize the needs and preferences of your target audience. Conduct thorough research, gather feedback, and iterate based on user insights. By continually refining your offering to meet user expectations, you can build a loyal customer base and drive business growth.

In conclusion, the success of Calendly and the findings of the study on active-learning strategies highlight the power of addressing frustrations and finding innovative solutions. By focusing on user needs, embracing active-learning methods, and fostering innovation, individuals and organizations can drive meaningful change and achieve remarkable success.