Amjad Masad on Going Direct, Building Replit, and the Future of Software
About this episode
Amjad Masad discusses the importance of storytelling and communication in building Replit and attracting talent and capital.
Recorded live at the New Media Summit, Erik Torenberg sits down with Replit founder and CEO Amjad Masad to discuss founder-led storytelling, building in public, and the role of media in company building. Masad reflects on Replit’s decade-long journey, including the years before the company’s recent breakout growth, and explains why communicating a vision can be just as important as executing on it. He argues that for many founders, especially those building ambitious products ahead of the market, telling a compelling story is often necessary to attract talent, capital, and early believers. The conversation explores social media, authenticity, public communication, company-building, and how founders can develop a voice that resonates beyond their product. Along the way, Masad shares lessons from building Replit, navigating controversy, and why he believes founders should think carefully about when to go direct and what story they're trying to tell.
People in this episode
Host: Erik Torenberg
Guest: Amjad Masad
Topics covered
- founder-led storytelling
- building in public
- media in company building
- communication
- social media
- authenticity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Replit, New Media Summit
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