Student’s run on Quizlet. The title doesn’t exactly reflect Sutherland’s heart for the product he founded but conveys the origins the flashcard flipping and sharing web and mobile app. As a junior in high school, Sutherland wanted to do better on a French test, so tackled this seemingly unsolvable problem with a group of friends once for us all.
With origins so humble and familiar, it’s startling that Quizlet has grown into a small company that helps tens of millions of students representing all ages prepare for their tests. That 15-year-old who aced French test brought his brilliant solution with him to MIT where it eventually became the small San Francisco company it is today.
Sutherland demonstrates that “nailing the problem” is what’s most important when growing an idea into a business. Quizlet remains focused on serving as many students as possible with a largely free software solution. Sutherland gave up the reigns of Quizlet to a new CEO a few years ago while staying on as CTO. Relenting your control on your business may be what’s best if you want your product to continue solving the problem serves to solve.
Today, Quizlet’s mission statement is to help students practice and master whatever they’re learning while providing students and teachers with the ability to create their own content for learning and teaching.
