Ten years after graduating with an MISM degree from BYU, Kyle Mathews (CEO and founder of Gatsby) announced that Gatsby has raised $15 million in Series A funding. This is a huge accomplishment for this open source software company. Their funding was raised by CRV and other investors including Trinity Ventures, Fathom Capital, and Dig Ventures.
Gatsby is “a blazing fast static site generator for React.js”. It is a tool that aims to simplify every part of the process of developing a website. Kyle started Gatsby in May 2015 when he realized that React could help build static sights. He had previously done a lot of web development with different programs and worked at Pantheon (a hosting company for WordPress and Drupal). He saw an opportunity to do something similar with the latest web technologies and launched GatsbyJS as an open source project.
When GatsbyJS launched in 2015, people began using it almost immediately. Since then, Gatsby has been used by companies such as IBM, PayPal, Braun, Airbnb and Impossible Burger. What has led to Gatsby’s growth and success? Kyle explained that Gatsby is a logical solution because it is an up-to-date site generator that is natural to use. It resolves the disconnect often faced by developers using other frameworks.
Kyle stated, “People see Gatsby and say [that it] is way easier than what [they] are doing right now.” Gatsby’s customers realize the program can fulfill their current needs and produce a better product.
There is a rule of thumb that a product must be 10x better than the current solution before it obtains rapid adoption. People innately stay with what they are comfortable with and know. Kyle believes that Gatsby is 7x better than alternative products right now and with the projects the company currently has underway, Gatsby will only become better. The funding raised will be used to hire developers to work on these projects for Gatsby.
Kyle stepped into the tech industry when he began the BSIS at BYU. He reflected that he didn’t know a lot about the technical side of the major. Database and programming courses helped him gain the foundation he has built upon throughout his career. The IS major is great for entrepreneurial students because they learn both the technical and business skills needed to start their own companies. Kyle advises current students looking for entrepreneurship opportunities to focus on making their own path. Be curious, continue to learn, and find opportunities.