REWORK

Basecamp 5 is out in the world! In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down with host Kimberly Rhodes to talk about some of the details of the launch and the big decisions that went into it. They discuss what went smoothly, what only a live rollout could reveal, and the response from current customers. Key Takeaways 00:34 – How this launch compared to previous Basecamp versions03:50 – Setting (and moving) the launch date06:45 – How the mobile apps equaled a point of no ...

Coming up with a product name doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share when in the development process a name is chosen, how several of their products got their names, and why keeping things simple usually wins. They talk about what's worth considering and what's not worth a second thought. Key Takeaways 00:10 – How Fizzy got its name and what it was almost called04:29 – No name ever checks every box10:25 – When an available domain influe...

Good ideas rarely belong in just one place. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share how 37signals lets concepts move freely across products, turning one solid idea into many useful ones. They talk about borrowing from the past without getting stuck in it, giving new concepts time to catch on, and keeping space for creativity as products evolve. Key Takeaways 00:11 – Letting strong ideas travel between products02:49 – Giving each product its own design voice07:26 – Bringing b...

Open source has always played a big role at 37signals. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share why they’re drawn to working in the open, and how that mindset carries into their newest product, Fizzy. Key Takeaways 00:12 – Why open source continues to matter at 37signals05:12 – Sharing work publicly pushes quality higher09:55 – How open source fits into Fizzy’s SaaS setup15:15 – Treating open source as a gift19:41 – Getting direct feedback in unfamiliar but fun ways 22:5...

How do you land on the right price for a product? This week, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson pull back the curtain on the pricing choices they’ve made over the years, including the options the public never saw. They talk about why chasing giant enterprise deals isn’t for them, and why simple, steady pricing beats clever tricks. Key Takeaways 00:11 – The pricing experiments over the years10:48 – Why 37signals avoids enterprise deals18:05 – How Basecamp’s pricing ...

This week, the team shares a behind-the-scenes look at how they bring in outside beta testers before a product launch. Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share how they invite early users into the mix, what they’re looking for, and how it all shapes the final version. It’s a rare peek into the “guests are coming over” phase of building Fizzy. Key Takeaways 00:12 – Inside Fizzy’s early access phase02:28 – Selecting beta testers03:05 – Treating early access as a real-world dry run07:11 – ...

With the launch of Fizzy getting closer, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson use this episode to answer listener questions about the upcoming product. They talk about how Fizzy and Basecamp will coexist, why aesthetic design choices matter, and which AI features are actually worth using. Key Takeaways 00:11 – Fizzy and Basecamp, competitors or complementary?02:00 – Finding the right tools that fit your workflow11:39 – Why aesthetics matter in software18:45 – Not eve...

For 37signals, flashy ad campaigns and traditional brand promos have never been the way to go. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share why traditional marketing methods like billboards, paid social media posts, and keyword ads don’t give them results. They talk about how meaningful marketing comes from genuine support and real connection. Key Takeaways 00:12 – Why marketing ROI looks different for every business10:35 – Spend your marketing budget on companies and people you ...