Tome | Persuasion Through Stories

TL;DR

Tome is a storytelling platform that aims to revolutionize communication at work by providing an intuitive, simple, and visually appealing way to share ideas using a wide range of media formats, such as video, design work, and live data.

Transcript

hi everyone welcome to gray matter the podcast from greylock where we share stories from company builders and business leaders i'm reed hoffman a general partner at greylock my guests today are keith paris and henry lione who are the co-founders of tome keith is also an entrepreneur in residence here at greylock keith and henry have built the story... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔨 Storytelling is a fundamental aspect of human productivity and cooperation, and Tome aims to provide a powerful tool for effective communication.
• 💁 Traditional presentation tools like PowerPoint and Google Slides often prioritize formatting and design over the quality of ideas, hindering the sharing of compelling stories.
• 😮 The rise of remote and distributed work has amplified the need for a storytelling platform like Tome that can facilitate alignment and shared understanding across teams.
• 😫 Tome's focus on integrating a wide range of media formats and its emphasis on simplicity and user experience sets it apart from other presentation tools.
• 💁 The ability to create interactive and visually appealing presentations with seamlessly integrated media formats enhances comprehension and engagement.
• 😶‍🌫️ Tome's tile system and integrations with other cloud applications streamline the process of sharing and updating artifacts, reducing the risk of outdated and fragmented information.
• 😤 Tome has found usage beyond product teams, with creative agencies, sales and marketing functions, and community organizations using the platform for various communication purposes.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Keith and Henry decide to create Tome?

Keith and Henry recognized the need for a storytelling tool that allows professionals to share ideas and information in a compelling and engaging way, similar to how social media platforms facilitate easy and effective communication in personal lives.

Q: How does Tome differentiate itself from other presentation tools like PowerPoint and Google Slides?

Tome focuses on providing an intuitive and visually appealing user experience, allowing professionals to seamlessly integrate a wide range of media formats, such as video, design work, and live data. It aims to eliminate the time-consuming formatting and design aspects of traditional presentation tools.

Q: Who is Tome built for?

Initially, Tome was built with product teams in mind, but it has found uses across various functions and industries. Creative agencies, sales and marketing teams, and community organizations have also found value in the platform for creating visually-rich and impactful presentations.

Q: How does Tome address the challenges of remote and distributed work?

Tome's ability to integrate live data, interactive prototypes, and videos, combined with its support for asynchronous collaboration, makes it an ideal tool for remote and distributed teams. It allows for easier alignment and shared understanding, bridging the gaps created by physical distance and different time zones.

Summary

In this episode of the Gray Matter podcast, Reed Hoffman interviews Keith Paris and Henry Lione, co-founders of Tome, a storytelling platform. They discuss the importance of storytelling in the workplace, the limitations of current presentation tools, and how Tome aims to revolutionize the way professionals share ideas and collaborate.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the origin story of Tome and why did you decide to create it?

Keith and Henry believe that storytelling is essential to human productivity and communication. They noticed a lack of effective storytelling tools in the workplace, and identified a need for a tool that makes sharing ideas as easy and engaging as posting a story on social media. They wanted to create a platform that allows professionals to quickly and intuitively pull together different formats of information, such as videos, designs, and live data, without worrying about formatting or design.

Q: How does storytelling contribute to team alignment and shared understanding?

Storytelling is a means to build alignment and shared understanding, which are crucial for cooperation and decision-making within teams and companies. Whether it's telling stories over Slack, by the water cooler, or through structured presentations, storytelling helps bring people together and allows them to work towards a common goal. It helps articulate ideas, make decisions, recruit talent, and set roadmaps.

Q: How does the evolving work environment, such as hybrid and remote work, impact the need for effective storytelling tools?

The shift to hybrid and remote work has made team cohesion and effective communication even more important. In a distributed work environment, storytelling becomes key in aligning teams and cohering around a mission. Traditional presentation tools are often inadequate for this purpose, as they require additional coordination, are difficult to consume on mobile devices, and lack interactivity. Tome addresses these challenges by providing a platform where teams can easily collaborate and share stories with different mediums, such as video, text, design, and prototypes.

Q: Who is Tome built for and who is currently using it?

Initially, Tome was built with product managers and designers in mind, as their work often involves presenting and persuading others using live data, interactive prototypes, and videos. However, Tome has found value outside of product teams as well. Creative agencies, sales, and marketing functions are among the early adopters who appreciate the engaging and versatile nature of the platform. Companies like Snap, Stripe, Flexport, Unity, and Notion have already embraced Tome as a storytelling tool.

Q: How does Tome fit into the landscape of existing productivity tools like Coda, Notion, Figma, and Slides?

While there are many tools available for writing documents or creating designs, there is a lack of storytelling tools that seamlessly integrate different mediums. Tome aims to address this gap by allowing users to weave together text, video, design, and data into a rich, cohesive story. It complements existing document tools by providing a way to present and communicate ideas in a more engaging and structured format.

Q: Why have presentation tools like PowerPoint and Google Slides received limited attention in terms of innovation and improvement?

There are a couple of reasons for this. Startups and modern technology companies have tried to move away from slide presentations, considering them time-consuming, difficult to read on mobile devices, and prone to becoming outdated. Some companies, like Amazon, have even abolished slide decks altogether. Additionally, many people believe that the limitations and formatting requirements of traditional presentation tools are intrinsic to the concept of slideshows. As a result, other tools like documents, Slack, and video have been used instead, even though they may not be the best fit for storytelling purposes.

Q: How does Tome approach the challenge of presentation tools?

Tome aims to provide a tool that cuts away the need for formatting and design, allowing users to focus on telling a great story. By enabling users to easily integrate different mediums, such as data, video, text, and design, Tome allows for more comprehensive and engaging storytelling. The platform's tile system and integrations with other tools minimize the creation of outdated copies of artifacts, making it easier to collaborate and keep information up to date.

Q: Can you share any unusual or innovative use cases of Tome?

Users have found various creative uses for Tome, such as creating mood boards for artistic directions or putting together how-to guides for hands-on activities like baking or fitness workouts. The platform's flexibility and ability to display images and videos cleanly make it useful for creative agencies, as well as sales and marketing teams. It has even been used to improve the readability and visual appeal of complex documents like term sheets.

Q: What can we expect from Tome in the next year or so?

Tome has exciting plans for the future. They are focused on expanding the user base across different functions and organizations, gathering feedback and building publicly with customers. In terms of product development, they are working on enabling complete mobile creation and editing, making integrations seamless, and enhancing interactivity. They also have some additional features and improvements in the pipeline that will further enhance the storytelling experience but have not been disclosed yet.

Takeaways

Tome is revolutionizing the way professionals tell stories and share ideas in the workplace. By providing an intuitive and engaging platform, it allows users to seamlessly integrate different mediums, such as video, text, design, and data, into their storytelling. Tome aims to address the limitations of traditional presentation tools by focusing on comprehensive storytelling, minimizing formatting and design efforts, and enabling collaboration and interactivity. The platform has found value beyond product teams, with early adopters in creative agencies, sales, and marketing functions. With plans for mobile editing, better integrations, and more interactivity, Tome is set to become an essential tool for effective communication and collaboration in the future.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Tome was founded by Keith Paris and Henry Lione, former product leads at Instagram and Facebook, with the goal of creating a storytelling tool that is as easy and engaging as posting on social media.

• The platform allows professionals to quickly and effortlessly create compelling stories by seamlessly integrating various media formats and collaborating with remote teams in real-time.

• Tome addresses the central role of storytelling in work by enabling alignment, shared understanding, and effective communication within teams and across organizations.