Notion's lost years, near collapse during COVID, staying small to move fast, building horizontal

In this episode of Lenny's Podcast, Lenny interviews Ivan Zhao, the co-founder and CEO of Notion, about his journey building the company. Ivan shares insights into Notion's early "lost years," the importance of balancing vision with user needs, and the company's lean approach to growth. He discusses the pivotal moment of finding product-market fit, the challenges of building a horizontal platform, and Notion's unique approach to product development, emphasizing the blend of craft, values, and trade-offs. Ivan also touches on the role of AI in Notion's future and reflects on the company's mission to empower creativity and augment human potential through software.