Aaron Levie Building Quotations

In a user lead model, users are bringing in their own technology... and you can build software then, around the user.

Every single industry is going through a major business model and technology oriented disruption.

We didn't really start the company to go build an enterprise software company.

You intentionally start small, because you will not be able to compete with an incumbent... because the incumbent is always going to go for the full solution.

Do things that incumbents can't or won't do because it's economically or technically infeasible.

Go after the customers that are working in the future, but haven't totally lost their minds.

Listen to your customers, but don't always build exactly what they're telling you. This is a really key distinction around building enterprise software.

Modularize, don't customize. Build a platform as opposed to building all of the custom technology and custom vertical experiences.

Read these 3 books - Crossing the Chasm, Innovators Dilemma and Behind the Cloud.

In the enterprise you want to start intentionally small.

If there could've ever been a magical time to build an enterprise software company, now is absolutely that time.

We're going from a world of customized software to standardized platforms.

The IT model of the enterprise has become a lot more user lead.