Spenser Skates is the Cofounder and CEO of Amplitude Analytics, the leading product intelligence platform that helps companies leverage customer data to build better products. After graduating from MIT in 2010, Spenser spent a year working in finance and convincing his cofounder, Curtis Liu, to join him in building a business full-time. They launched a voice-recognition startup, Sonalight, in 2011 and pivoted to product analytics in 2014. Today, Amplitude generates $100M in annual revenue.
In the early stages of building a startup, the founders are doing all the things—all by themselves. But as a company grows, the most successful founders evolve, taking on whatever role is necessary to move the business to the next level. So, what does that journey look like? And what do you need to know as a founder in the early stages of building a business?
Spenser Skates is the Cofounder and CEO of Amplitude Analytics, the leading product intelligence platform that helps companies leverage customer data to build better products. After graduating from MIT in 2010, Spenser spent a year working in finance and convincing his cofounder, Curtis Liu, to join him in building a business full-time. They launched a voice-recognition startup, Sonalight, in 2011 and pivoted to product analytics in 2014. Today, Amplitude generates $100M in annual revenue.
On this episode of the podcast, Spenser joins us to share his journey as a founder, explaining the decision to quit working on Sonalight and build Amplitude Analytics. He offers advice on finding the right cofounder, describing what makes his relationship with Curtis work and how his role as CEO has evolved as the company has grown. Listen in for Spenser’s insight on mastering sales and management (when engineering is your strength) and learn how to allocate your time as a startup founder in the early stages of building a business.
Topics Covered
How Spenser came to build Amplitude Analytics
Why Spenser made the decision to quit Sonalight
Spenser’s advice on finding the right cofounder
What makes Spenser & Curtis’ relationship work
How Spenser landed Amplitude’s first customers
How startup founders should be using their time
How Spenser’s job has evolved as Amplitude grows
Spenser’s insight on mastering management
When to hire someone vs. do a job yourself
Spenser’s personal definition of success
Connect with Spenser
Amplitude Analytics https://amplitude.com/
Amplitude on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AmplitudeAnalytics
Amplitude on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplitude-analytics
Amplitude on Twitter https://twitter.com/Amplitude_HQ
Spenser on Twitter https://twitter.com/spenserskates
Spenser on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/in/spenserskates
Resources
Y Combinator https://www.ycombinator.com/
Curtis Liu https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtisliu
Airbnb Founder Story https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/the-inside-story-behind-the-unlikely-rise-of-airbnb/
Mitch Morando http://www.morandomethod.com/
Zynga https://www.zynga.com/
Eric Vishria https://twitter.com/ericvishria
VALORANT https://playvalorant.com/en-us/
Minecraft https://www.minecraft.net/en-us
UC Berkley Computer Science Association https://www.csua.berkeley.edu/
Xerox PARC https://web.stanford.edu/dept/SUL/sites/mac/parc.html
Connect with Boost VC
Boost VC Website https://www.boost.vc/
Boost VC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/boostvc/
Boost VC on Twitter https://twitter.com/BoostVC
Boost VC on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/boost_vc/