What does it take to become one of the most prominent players in Web3 / blockchain community? How do you build tools for Web3 developers and how do you market them? How do you do all of this and become one of the fastest growing developer tooling companies?
This week, we talked to Bogdan Habic, co-founder and CTO of Tenderly, a full-stack infrastructure for Web3 professionals which was founded in 2018. and has so far raised almost 60 million dollars from VC’s such as Accel, Point Nine, Version One Ventures and Spark Capital.
In this episode, Bogdan shared his experience with starting a Web3 company by coming from a Web2 community, highlighting the importance of understanding developer mindset and the need for reliable tools that they can use.
Our hosts, IBB and Mia Biberovic, explored how Tenderly transitioned from a tooling company to a broader infrastructure provider thanks to their investors and mentors. Habic emphasized the significance of community engagement and direct communication with users, which was pivotal in shaping their product offerings.
He also touched upon the subject of hiring in Web3 space, noting that most of their team comes from Web2 backgrounds and required training in order to adapt to the new enviroment. This nurturing approach became a cornerstone for their successful growth.
Throughout our conversation, Bogdan shared valuable lessons on navigating the complexities of developer marketing, the importance of building a strong company culture, and the need for continuous learning and adaptation in a rapidly evolving industry. Habic noted the parallels between the current AI boom and the Web3 landscape, suggesting that both fields are on the brink of mainstream acceptance.
Towards the end, our guest emphasized the importance of giving back to the community through initiatives such as Garaza which is aimed at supporting and mentoring the next generation of founders.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:52 - How do you scale in Web3?
04:15 - Build it and they will come?
06:45 - Engineers as consumers
08:33 - Investor pep talk
10:52 - Market effect on Tenderly
12:52 - Web3 over promised the timeline not the value
15:24 - Hiring for Web3 space
18:57 - The NEW 20% RULE
23:49 - Community is everything
27:01 - Communicating with developers
28:32 - Giving back with Garaza
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