Episode
David Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
58:47
Published: Mon Mar 13 2023
Description
In this episode we’re talking to David Lieb, creator of Google Photos. Back in 2009, YC funded his startup, Bump Technologies, which had a cool technology where you transferred your contact info from one person to another by literally bumping phones. He’ll share Bump’s ups and downs as they went from business school side hustle to hot new iOS app. He’ll talk about getting acquired by Google and ultimately transforming Bump into the wildly popular Google Photos. David recently came back to Y Combinator as a visiting group partner.
Chapters
Co-founders of the popular Podium app, Eric Rea and Jake Poses, talk about the difficulties they faced as a startup with millions of users and dealing with the opinions of old-school VCs.
00:00 - 03:07 (03:07)
Summary
Co-founders of the popular Podium app, Eric Rea and Jake Poses, talk about the difficulties they faced as a startup with millions of users and dealing with the opinions of old-school VCs.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
The speaker learned about Dropbox from a mentor who connected them with Drew but they never actually talked with him.
03:08 - 07:52 (04:44)
Summary
The speaker learned about Dropbox from a mentor who connected them with Drew but they never actually talked with him. The decision to use Dropbox was unanimous among the group.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
During the early days of the App Store, Bump co-founder David Lieb was inspired to create an app that would allow users to instantly share contact information with one another.
07:52 - 13:30 (05:37)
Summary
During the early days of the App Store, Bump co-founder David Lieb was inspired to create an app that would allow users to instantly share contact information with one another. The idea spread quickly, and within a few weeks, Bump became one of the most popular apps on the App Store, earning millions of downloads and changing the way people share information on their smartphones.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
The co-founder of a semiconductor company received text messages from friends saying they saw him in an Apple TV commercial during "Dancing with the Stars" despite the low probability of their app getting downloaded that day.
13:30 - 18:46 (05:15)
Summary
The co-founder of a semiconductor company received text messages from friends saying they saw him in an Apple TV commercial during "Dancing with the Stars" despite the low probability of their app getting downloaded that day.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
Flock failed to keep up with immediate and cool app trends, leading to low user retention and no path for venture-returnable success.
18:46 - 24:00 (05:13)
Summary
Flock failed to keep up with immediate and cool app trends, leading to low user retention and no path for venture-returnable success.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
In this episode, Dave Lieb talks about the journey of Bump being acquired by Google, the challenges faced during the process, and the evolution of the product.
23:59 - 31:01 (07:01)
Summary
In this episode, Dave Lieb talks about the journey of Bump being acquired by Google, the challenges faced during the process, and the evolution of the product.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
Two former Bump employees worked on developing Google Photos using new Google technology by spending Monday mornings working on their original roles and the rest of the week on Google Photos.
31:01 - 34:05 (03:04)
Summary
Two former Bump employees worked on developing Google Photos using new Google technology by spending Monday mornings working on their original roles and the rest of the week on Google Photos.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
Over nine years at Google, the speaker noticed that the company's ability to take risks and innovate was largely dictated by the personal incentives of its leaders.
34:05 - 38:40 (04:34)
Summary
Over nine years at Google, the speaker noticed that the company's ability to take risks and innovate was largely dictated by the personal incentives of its leaders. In the early days, they were more willing to take risks and pioneer new ideas, while currently there is a shift towards more cautious decision-making.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
The success of a product shouldn't be determined by stock market outcomes, but rather on how useful it is to people.
38:40 - 43:33 (04:53)
Summary
The success of a product shouldn't be determined by stock market outcomes, but rather on how useful it is to people. The world needs products that solve problems, regardless of whether they have a business model or not.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
The fear of her mortality led this person to pursue her passion for startups and invest in YC alums.
43:33 - 47:05 (03:31)
Summary
The fear of her mortality led this person to pursue her passion for startups and invest in YC alums. She realized if she were to die in 10 years, she would want to make sure she had done something meaningful with her life.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
The guest speaks about the challenges of being a partner at Y Combinator while also being a father and a cancer survivor.
47:05 - 52:47 (05:42)
Summary
The guest speaks about the challenges of being a partner at Y Combinator while also being a father and a cancer survivor. He also shares how he has learned more in three months as a partner at YC than the previous three years at Google.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
The speaker discusses the culture of innovation within the tech industry, particularly in Silicon Valley, by recounting personal experiences of how departing employees were advised to keep innovating during their farewell speeches, even suggesting ideas to pursue.
52:47 - 57:24 (04:37)
Summary
The speaker discusses the culture of innovation within the tech industry, particularly in Silicon Valley, by recounting personal experiences of how departing employees were advised to keep innovating during their farewell speeches, even suggesting ideas to pursue.
EpisodeDavid Lieb, Creator of Google Photos
PodcastThe Social Radars
The speaker shares his advice for young people starting their career, emphasizing the importance of finding what makes them happy and seeking guidance from experienced colleagues.
57:24 - 58:43 (01:19)
Summary
The speaker shares his advice for young people starting their career, emphasizing the importance of finding what makes them happy and seeking guidance from experienced colleagues. He also discusses the role of mentorship in his own career journey and the value of alumni returning to contribute to the success of a program.