[Market Trends] Plaid's Path to Product-Market Fit | FirstRoundCapital
📌 Pivoting to Success: How Plaid Found Its Market by Licensing Its Backend Technology
Plaid initially aimed to create consumer budgeting products but failed to gain traction. Realizing that consumers weren't interested, they pivoted when a colleague suggested licensing their backend technology, which integrated bank data for apps. This shift toward providing financial infrastructure proved pivotal. They then focused on market development, creating a community and advocating for fintech, which was nascent in 2012. By cultivating early adopters and fostering relationships, Plaid transformed into a platform company, growing alongside its users and benefiting from their success, especially as fintech started booming with companies like Robin Hood and Coinbase.