Soft openings aren't just for restaurants

In this episode of the REWORK podcast, Kimberly Rhodes speaks with 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson about their approach to beta testing their new product, Fizzy. They discuss the benefits of bringing in outside testers, starting with a small, handpicked group of familiar users before expanding to a larger list of sign-ups. The goal is to identify blind spots, ensure data integrity, and prioritize necessary fixes before the public launch. They emphasize that this early access is not a focus group for redesigning the product, but rather a way to refine the user experience and catch critical issues, creating a forcing function for prioritizing tasks and fostering a sense of community among early adopters. They also plan to use a similar approach for future products like Basecamp 5.