Vote of Confidence
Being named as a fbFund REV participant was our first vote of confidence. For one, it was an endorsement of the potential of our 2nd-degree dating/matchmaking concept. Also, the fact that we’d been selected and incubated by fbFund helped us raise a full seed round later. In particular, it quelled concerns about whether Facebook liked what we were doing.
Startup Religion
REV was where we “saw the light” of a new startup religion… one that emphasizes lean, iterative development and real product/market fit. Industry luminaries like Eric Reis, Sean Ellis, Josh Kopelman, Jeremy Owyang, and Dave McClure drilled into our heads that leaner is better, your first business idea is almost certainly wrong, and learning fast is more important than being right. The speakers were a truly impressive set of Web pioneers, each doing their part to create a new startup movement… and with REV we got a front-row seat.
Demystifying Facebook
Sometimes outsiders can see Facebook as a black box, or wonder why it makes the decisions it does. At REV we had the opportunity to meet Facebook employees personally and understand the ethos of the company. The rule of thumb for Facebook app developers: if you truly put users first, Facebook will support you. This ideal drives their policy decisions, and should guide yours too.
Taking Care of Business
Dave, Enrique, and Shelli of the REV team took care of our every need, which freed us up to focus on our business. They consistently provided resources, feedback, advocacy, and a kick in the pants right when you needed it (just like Mom used to). Their help with business planning, usability tests, branding, and copy-writing enabled us to get our beta product out the door.
Getting Exposure
The REV team was also skilled at generating buzz. There was premier media coverage for our program, companies, speakers, and Demo Day. There was an international press day. We had access to industry conferences and networking events. REV also sponsored documentaries and in-person events for its companies. (Of course I’d be remiss without also recognizing the awesome power of Dave McClure’s tweets!)
Connection and Community
REV fostered community for us on several levels. For one, it was the first time that our Thread team worked consistently under one roof, which boosted our speed, communication, and caffeination (given the proximity to great coffee in downtown Palo Alto!).
Plus, we got amazing real-world advice from the REV advisers and entrepreneurs who dropped by. There’s nothing like talking to folks who’ve been exactly where you are, who’ve had to learn their lessons the hard way, and who’ve succeeded as a result.
Vicarious Learning
But I’m most inspired by our community of fellow REV developers. We saw it all this summer — from the highs of signing big deals, earning revenue, and getting profitable… to the challenges of fund raising, relocating, and pivoting business models. At REV we got to learn from things we haven’t even experienced yet.
In a way, REV was a microcosm of the triumphs and tragedies lived by startups everywhere. By sharing a summer together, we lived lifetimes of learning in just 3 short months.
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Katherine Woo is the Co-Founder and COO of Thread.com, the first dating site to be built exclusively on Facebook Connect.
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