a16z Podcast | You Just Thought You Were Building a Software Company. It's a Community. | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Community is the driving force behind successful businesses, as it allows people to connect, collaborate, and achieve things they couldn't have done alone.

Key Insights

• 👻 Community used to be limited to physical proximity, but the internet has expanded its boundaries, allowing for powerful connections and collaborations.
• ✊ Successful internet-based businesses are built upon the power of communities coming together to achieve common goals.
• ❓ Learning from political organizing can provide valuable insights into mobilizing communities and achieving specific objectives.
• 🥺 Incorporating community into a company's culture can lead to greater employee engagement and connection to the company's mission.
• 🥅 Community is not limited to specific industries, and various sectors are starting to recognize its potential in accomplishing goals.
• 🤗 The internet and the concept of community have opened up endless possibilities for individuals to create and achieve things they are passionate about.
• 😌 The power of community lies in unlocking the untapped potential of individuals who may be stuck in unfulfilling jobs, allowing them to create the things they were always meant to.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How has the internet changed the concept of community?

The internet has enabled communities to exist despite physical boundaries, allowing for both strong ties and weak connections between individuals.

Q: How has community involvement affected the success of internet-based businesses?

The success of businesses like Airbnb and Lyft is based on the communities they have created, with users coming together to accomplish tasks at a scale previously impossible.

Q: What can entrepreneurs learn from political organizing when it comes to building communities?

Political organizing has valuable lessons on how to mobilize volunteers to achieve specific goals, which can be applied to organizing hosts or creating communities within businesses.

Q: How can companies incorporate community into their company culture?

Baking community into a company's culture involves helping employees understand their stories, connecting them to the company's mission, and encouraging storytelling both internally and externally.

Q: Has the understanding of the power of community extended to different industries?

Industries such as politics and nonprofits have recognized the importance of community for a long time, but sectors like crowdfunding and the sharing economy are also starting to understand the power of community in accomplishing goals.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NationBuilder founder Jim Gilliam explains that community is at the core of his company's mission, helping people build and organize communities.

• Community used to be restricted to physical proximity but has now expanded thanks to the internet, enabling connections and collaboration across boundaries.

• The concept of community has been applied to various industries, such as the sharing economy, politics, and nonprofit organizations.