20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
20+ Years of Design, Technology & More
Autodesk was founded in 1982 not to create AutoCAD, which emerged later from a product initially called MicroCAD, but to develop various software products. The pivotal moment came at COMDEX when the founders chose to focus solely on AutoCAD after its strong reception, leading to their success in the CAD industry.
The Accidental Empire
How a band of UNIVAC hackers, a borrowed plotter, and five long-shot bets became one of the most influential software companies ever built. The oral history Autodesk never officially told. Here are the Oral History of many early Autodesk founders and those in its early history.
Shaan shares insights from my dual experience as an Autodesk customer and product team member. Key lessons include prioritizing must-have features using the Kano Model, ensuring features align with business goals, leveraging data, and understanding customer feedback context. Additionally, fostering a culture of learning and storytelling can drive innovation and customer loyalty.
Whether you're managing a skyscraper or building a software product, the core ingredients are the same. The tools and outputs might be different, but the moving parts, the people, and the deadlines are all very familiar.
Here’s the recipe to keep your project moving without falling apart.
Every weekday morning at 6:00 a.m. in Bend, Oregon, I log into one of my startup client’s virtual office with a strong cup of yerba mate tea and my sleepy silver labrador Coho at my feet. Across the Atlantic, Trey’s already deep into his afternoon in Belgium, mapping out go-to-market strategy and financial tasks. In Colombia, Troy’s checking notes, answering emails, and prepping for the next feature push. Thiago in Brazil and Tom in South Carolina are already writing code, while Cam and David are trading notes on sales conversations from yesterday.
Happy New Year from Between the Lines and Cascade Technology Consulting! As we usher in 2025, I want to take a moment to thank my amazing clients who helped make 2024 such a fulfilling year. Your trust and collaboration have been instrumental in driving meaningful transformations, and I am excited to continue our partnerships as we move into this new year.
Having been both a customer and user of Autodesk products, and as a member of product teams, I’ve had the unique experience of seeing things from both perspectives. I’ve been the voice of the customer, advocating for their needs, interpreting their sentiment, and translating real-world use cases into product strategy. Whether you’re a startup or scaling up, here are some lessons that might help you focus on what really matters.
As startups navigate the challenging and changing landscape of building and scaling a business, there's much to learn from industry giants like Google. Google's approach to culture, innovation, and technology offers valuable insights that can be adapted to smaller organizations aiming for growth and impact. Here are key lessons that startups can apply from Google's experiences.
AEC Hackathons have been incredible and inspiring, leading to the formation of actual industry startups with products born from hackathon-generated ideas. I've personally participated in two events, one in Seattle and another in Copenhagen. If you ever have the chance to participate or even just attend, take it—it's enjoyable and you witness innovation at the very moment it ignites change in the industry.
Wow, what a crazy couple of weeks it's been!