Can you believe Aha! was founded 10 years ago?

Dear happy adventurers,

This weekend marked a major milestone for  Aha! — 10 years of being in business. We grew a lot in that time as a company, as teammates, and as individuals. 

Aha! began with a bold idea for how we could help people build products and be happy doing it. Some people told my co-founder Chris Waters  and me that in the big universe of software development, roadmapping was a niche concept that would never amount to anything meaningful. We smiled and suggested that our experience showed us that the vast majority of companies needed a more disciplined way to connect business and product strategy to what they actually built. There had been too much software waste for a very long time. 

(Side note: When someone tells you that they think your solution solves a niche problem? Go for it! All great companies start by solving one problem first. In our case, we ended up defining a new category of technology — roadmap software.)

Chris and I knew we could make an impact if we shared what we had learned and did it with a care for people. Between the two of us we had founded several companies, two of which were acquired by Aruba Networks and Citrix, respectively. This time, we wanted to do it our way — 100 percent bootstrapped, entirely remote, with no sales team, and no drama. Hire the best and set folks free to achieve. Treat our customers the way that we would like to be treated. In many ways, it was a back-to-basics approach: Create a great product and a great place to work with few distractions.

Thinking back on the last 10 years, I wanted to check in with some of our teammates who have been with us the longest to hear what the journey was like from their perspective.

Here is what they said:

"Aha! is my happy place. It feels like all paths led to me here — in terms of being all remote, a vision that builds upon all of my previous professional experience, and company values that deeply matter to me. When I look back, the thing that stands out is our growth. It is remarkable to me that we have grown in a steadily ambitious way, without the boom and bust cycles that most companies go through. Each year we push ourselves harder to achieve more. I love knowing that I can trust in the stability and fundamental decency of Aha! — which means less time worrying about the future of the company, and more time making that future a reality." —  Claire George joined Aha! in August 2018

"I knew going in that I would love working remotely with the great people I met during the interview process. What I did not know is how special a job could end up being. Every day I get to do meaningful work. Every day I see the company not just talk about values but truly live them. Being bootstrapped allows us to make the right decisions for us both financially and for our team. We are stable and serving our customers by being experts in our field." —  Rachele Siering joined Aha! in April 2017

"When I started at Aha! seven years ago, I was excited about the opportunity and a bit nervous. Joining a startup always comes with a certain degree of uncertainty. As soon as I met my colleagues, I knew that I had made the right choice. They were all incredibly welcoming and their passion for their work was infectious. Looking back, I am glad that I took the leap and joined Aha! — it has been an amazing journey so far." —  John Bohn joined Aha! in May 2016

"I knew from the moment I joined the Aha! team that it was something special. But I had no idea what it would come to mean to me and to my family. The fact that I get to work so closely with so many brilliant people and learn directly from the founders on a daily basis is invaluable. And the fact that I get to do it from my home in Alabama seems almost impossible. The last several years have been amazing to be a part of. I do not know what the future holds, but I am excited to contribute to it" —  Austin Merritt joined Aha! in April 2016

"I joined Aha! as employee 12 more than eight years ago, completely unsure of what I was getting myself into. Aha! was this unknown startup and coming from a big company I was honestly a bit nervous. I was so pleasantly surprised to find Aha! calmer and more focused on delivering results than anywhere I had ever worked. To be part of a team of around 125 teammates achieving more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue speaks volumes about the level of skill and commitment. I am so proud of what we can offer to our customers because of our unique way of doing business." —  Melissa Hopkins joined Aha! in March 2015

Over the weekend I asked folks on LinkedIn what comes to mind when they think of the company. Many current and former Aha! teammates commented and shared how their time at the company impacted their lives. But I was also heartened to see comments from customers, including some from very early on — even from someone who had signed up for our beta way back in 2013.

Many folks have asked me what will happen with Aha! in the next 10 years. My answer has been consistent: “I am not sure.” 

Who can predict the future? It is really hard to know what the next 12 months will bring with everything going on in the world. All we can do is continue to honor our values and pursue our goals with integrity. We hope for continued success and hopefully we will keep inspiring others to build high-growth businesses in more sustainable ways. 

Our vision remains the same as when we started the company: a world of lovable software. And our mission is to help people build it and delight in the work. We are thankful for the position we are in and commit to continue to do our best to make the future better tomorrow than it is today. We know that it cannot always be, and that there is inequity in business and the world, but we will continue to learn and do our part. 

We would be honored if you continue to join us on this remarkable adventure. Here's to the next 10 years.

Keep spreading the love,

Brian