Listen to the First Block podcast on Spotify. To learn more about how Notion is supporting startups, please visit notion.com/startups.
The TL;DR
Build your startup like you’re building a globally distributed company from day one—even if you’re not.
Message clarity beats product complexity.
Change your tagline from technical jargon to something customers immediately understand. Supabase changed its message and saw instant traction.
Everyone does customer support, regardless of role.
Make frontline support the first line in every contract, from CFO to intern. When customers see you helping in communities day after day, it builds a strong foundation for everything else.
Global remote isn’t just about talent—it’s perspective.
Building across time zones gives you 24/7 coverage, force you to think about global challenges from day one, and teaches you that people are people, no matter where they are.
Welcome to First Block, a Notion series where founders from the world's leading companies tell us about the many "firsts" of their startup journeys. We explore the ups and downs that founders face as they build, and what they've learned along the way.
In this episode, we spoke with Ant Wilson, Co-Founder and CTO of Supabase. Supabase is the Postgres development platform that has become one of the world’s fastest growing open source communities.
Ant shares his journey about previous founder experiences, the power of solving your own problem, and why building authentic relationships with your community matters.
What's in this episode:
Supabase's template
Download Supabase’s Hiring Pipeline template to capture candidates, move them through a clear pipeline, and coordinate every interview—all in one place.
Thought starters for founders
After listening to Ant’s insights, ask yourself:
Are you building relationships now with the people who could be your future co-founders?
What would change if everyone in your company did customer support?
How can you change your positioning to reference something your customers already know?
Read the full transcript here
