In the fast-paced world of software development, communicating changes to various stakeholders has always been a challenge. Founders Jake Brereton and Tyler Davis recognized this issue during their time at Atlassian and sought to create a solution. This led to the launch of LaunchNotes, a platform that facilitates product change communication at scale.
The Problem with Release Notes
Release notes have traditionally been used to communicate changes from development teams to product teams and external audiences. However, these static documents often fall short in conveying the necessary information to various stakeholders. With modern development approaches involving rapid releases and numerous changes per day, keeping up with release notes can be daunting.
The Birth of LaunchNotes
Brereton and Davis left Atlassian in 2019 to start LaunchNotes, with a mission to revolutionize product change communication. Their goal was to deliver release information to various parties with the exact information they needed, without overwhelming them with unnecessary details.
A Vision for Product Success
LaunchNotes’ vision is to build a platform that connects the core parts of the development cycle – communications, feedback, and planning – into one cohesive tool. This product success platform will enable product teams to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring everyone is aligned and on the same page.
The Approach: Delivering Change at Scale
LaunchNotes has achieved significant traction in recent years, reporting 650% revenue growth and 300% new customer growth last year. The company’s platform helps customers manage product changes by providing a centralized hub for release notes, feedback, and planning. This approach enables product teams to automate certain processes, such as integrating customer feedback from various data applications.
Customer Feedback: A Key Part of the Product
Customer feedback is an essential aspect of LaunchNotes’ platform. The company believes that integration of customer feedback is vital at every stage of the product development lifecycle. Davis noted, "Customer feedback in the voice of the customer is a major tenet with LaunchNotes."
Diversity and Inclusion: A Core Value
LaunchNotes’ founders have emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion in building a strong, healthy culture within their company. Brereton and Davis learned about the benefits of diversity during their time at Atlassian and have carried this lesson forward into their own venture.
Funding and Growth
In addition to its product success platform, LaunchNotes announced $15 million in Series A funding today. The round was led by Insight Partners, with participation from various investors including Atlassian Ventures. This investment will help the company continue building out its platform vision.
Conclusion
LaunchNotes has made significant strides in revolutionizing product change communication at scale. By delivering release information to stakeholders with precision and automating certain processes, the company is poised for continued growth. With a focus on customer feedback and diversity, LaunchNotes is an exciting development in the world of software development.
