5 ms·

3 Dudes from Missouri Built a Product, Found Paying Customers, and Got Into YC

91 points by bryanh 14y ago

peterhajas 14y ago
How does this service differ from ifttt? Why would I want to use it in place of ifttt? I see that you have a paying account, which is nice - ifttt has limitations (limited number of accounts, etc.) that limit its utility for me (and I'd certainly pay for those things). I see you have an API, which is really handy for dev-minded types. Can I build things that plug in as triggers or actions in an "ad-hoc" manner - things that are only for my use, and not advertised to other users? That'd be pretty incredible. I only wish the hardware I acquired recently to work with ifttt - my WiThings body scale and WeMo Belkin outlet/sensors - were compatible. I'd like more complex rules involving them.
- WadeF 14y ago
  Check out the dev platform (https://zapier.com/developer https://zapier.com/developer). You can build any app into it that you want and create it privately for your use alone.
- binxbolling 14y ago
  I was already using IFTTT when I found Zapier, but was immediately impressed that the latter seemed serious about tackling the more business-oriented apps. There are several services to help me integrate the usual suspects of Twitter, Evernote, etc. Less common, however, are pre-built connectors for, say, Zoho CRM.
  - WadeF 14y ago
    That's really our biggest difference (which I forgot to mention). While we do support some more consumery apps our main goal is to help businesses operate more efficiently and less painfully. When we think about new features, new apps, new services it's almost entirely with a business user in mind.
btipling 14y ago
> "Hey Bryan, its Paul. We loved you guys, we'd like to fund you." Zapier is pretty awesome, and the guys behind it are pretty sharp, it's no wonder Paul funded them. It seems like one of those things where after the fact you wonder why you hadn't thought of it yourself. Zapier is like the pipe in Yahoo Pipes, but more so. We added Zapier integration with Leftronic and some of our customers have been pretty excited about it. Zapier is especially great for real time dashboards. Ducksboard also added integration, before us even, because integrating a product like ours is just common sense. Now you can get any kind of data to show up on a dashboard (or via some other service) by just dragging and dropping. I hope more companies and projects add integration for their APIs on Zapier, it seems like it is in everyone's best interest, especially in the interests of our users. Eventually if this takes off you could build a successful product based just around integrating with Zapier.
ytNumbers 14y ago
Congratulations! You've built a fantastic service. But, I notice that even your most expensive plan only syncs every five minutes. Do you think you will ever offer a plan that syncs more frequently than every five minutes?
- WadeF 14y ago
  This is because we have to poll each services API. Anymore and we'll reach API limits. The goal is to move towards more webhooks and push notifications so that real time becomes a real possibility.
wprl 14y ago
Midwest silicon prairie represent!
- sakopov 14y ago
  Too bad they're not in Silicon Prairie anymore.
  - mikeknoop 14y ago
    One of us is (me) for a while longer. Also we hired our first in Chicago: https://zapier.com/blog/2012/10/24/zapier-team-grows/ https://zapier.com/blog/2012/10/24/zapier-team-grows/
    - sakopov 14y ago
      I'm in Kansas City myself and it would be very cool to see you guys grow in the midwest. Best of luck to you and your team!
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
ashrust 14y ago
Who are these zapier guys? Sounds like they got some great advice...
andrewkkirk 14y ago
I'm sure you're glad you over-prepared for the interview process instead of the other way around. BTW, this is most promising company I've heard of originating from Startup Weekend event, including Zaarly ($1.3M raised), specifically because they have great technology and business model.
bsims 14y ago
I think it is great that before the interview people have a chance to talk with others, network etc. to get the nerves out.
philip1209 14y ago
Good story! Thanks for your help at the 2012 Startup Weekend CoMo!
athst 14y ago
the yammer strategy? copy a consumer service everyone loves, market it for enterprise, sell to microsoft in a couple years...
jeremymims 14y ago
These guys are from Columbia, MO which actually has many of the things necessary to start a tech scene: A good university, cheap housing, and initial angel investment from folks like Brent Beshore who know how to build a strong successful business.
- sh_vipin 14y ago
  Might be but still we cannot undermine their efforts. They deserve a congratulation too, I guess.
sh_vipin 14y ago
Interesting to see "Zapier" calling them "dudes". A few days back when we raised a point to change the name of "developerAuction" to "GrabDudes" , a guy raised a concern that "no one would strive to be called as dude". !! http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/26/developer-auction-racks-up-78-million-more-bids-expands-to-la/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/26/developer-auction-racks-up-...
- DHowett 14y ago
  I think there is something rather more unsettling about "GrabDudes" than that you'd be calling developers "dudes."
madoublet 14y ago
As a dude from Missouri, congratulations!

91 points by bryanh 14y ago

How does this service differ from ifttt? Why would I want to use it in place of ifttt? I see that you have a paying account, which is nice - ifttt has limitations (limited number of accounts, etc.) that limit its utility for me (and I'd certainly pay for those things). I see you have an API, which is really handy for dev-minded types. Can I build things that plug in as triggers or actions in an "ad-hoc" manner - things that are only for my use, and not advertised to other users? That'd be pretty incredible. I only wish the hardware I acquired recently to work with ifttt - my WiThings body scale and WeMo Belkin outlet/sensors - were compatible. I'd like more complex rules involving them.

WadeF 14y ago
Check out the dev platform (https://zapier.com/developer https://zapier.com/developer). You can build any app into it that you want and create it privately for your use alone.
binxbolling 14y ago
I was already using IFTTT when I found Zapier, but was immediately impressed that the latter seemed serious about tackling the more business-oriented apps. There are several services to help me integrate the usual suspects of Twitter, Evernote, etc. Less common, however, are pre-built connectors for, say, Zoho CRM.
- WadeF 14y ago
  That's really our biggest difference (which I forgot to mention). While we do support some more consumery apps our main goal is to help businesses operate more efficiently and less painfully. When we think about new features, new apps, new services it's almost entirely with a business user in mind.

btipling 14y ago

> "Hey Bryan, its Paul. We loved you guys, we'd like to fund you." Zapier is pretty awesome, and the guys behind it are pretty sharp, it's no wonder Paul funded them. It seems like one of those things where after the fact you wonder why you hadn't thought of it yourself. Zapier is like the pipe in Yahoo Pipes, but more so. We added Zapier integration with Leftronic and some of our customers have been pretty excited about it. Zapier is especially great for real time dashboards. Ducksboard also added integration, before us even, because integrating a product like ours is just common sense. Now you can get any kind of data to show up on a dashboard (or via some other service) by just dragging and dropping. I hope more companies and projects add integration for their APIs on Zapier, it seems like it is in everyone's best interest, especially in the interests of our users. Eventually if this takes off you could build a successful product based just around integrating with Zapier.

ytNumbers 14y ago

Congratulations! You've built a fantastic service. But, I notice that even your most expensive plan only syncs every five minutes. Do you think you will ever offer a plan that syncs more frequently than every five minutes?

WadeF 14y ago
This is because we have to poll each services API. Anymore and we'll reach API limits. The goal is to move towards more webhooks and push notifications so that real time becomes a real possibility.

wprl 14y ago

Midwest silicon prairie represent!

sakopov 14y ago
Too bad they're not in Silicon Prairie anymore.
- mikeknoop 14y ago
  One of us is (me) for a while longer. Also we hired our first in Chicago: https://zapier.com/blog/2012/10/24/zapier-team-grows/ https://zapier.com/blog/2012/10/24/zapier-team-grows/
  - sakopov 14y ago
    I'm in Kansas City myself and it would be very cool to see you guys grow in the midwest. Best of luck to you and your team!
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]

ashrust 14y ago

Who are these zapier guys? Sounds like they got some great advice...

andrewkkirk 14y ago

I'm sure you're glad you over-prepared for the interview process instead of the other way around. BTW, this is most promising company I've heard of originating from Startup Weekend event, including Zaarly ($1.3M raised), specifically because they have great technology and business model.

bsims 14y ago

I think it is great that before the interview people have a chance to talk with others, network etc. to get the nerves out.

philip1209 14y ago

Good story! Thanks for your help at the 2012 Startup Weekend CoMo!

athst 14y ago

the yammer strategy? copy a consumer service everyone loves, market it for enterprise, sell to microsoft in a couple years...

jeremymims 14y ago

These guys are from Columbia, MO which actually has many of the things necessary to start a tech scene: A good university, cheap housing, and initial angel investment from folks like Brent Beshore who know how to build a strong successful business.

sh_vipin 14y ago
Might be but still we cannot undermine their efforts. They deserve a congratulation too, I guess.

sh_vipin 14y ago

Interesting to see "Zapier" calling them "dudes". A few days back when we raised a point to change the name of "developerAuction" to "GrabDudes" , a guy raised a concern that "no one would strive to be called as dude". !! http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/26/developer-auction-racks-up-78-million-more-bids-expands-to-la/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/10/26/developer-auction-racks-up-...

DHowett 14y ago
I think there is something rather more unsettling about "GrabDudes" than that you'd be calling developers "dudes."

madoublet 14y ago

As a dude from Missouri, congratulations!