Cold Emailing and Coffee Dates: Figma's Billionaire CEO Shares Unconventional Strategies for Success

Figma's CEO Dylan Field used cold emails and coffee invitations to convince ex-coworkers and tech heroes to use his product before its $68 billion success. Field, who was just 19 when he founded the company, pulled on any loose thread he could find to persuade others to use it. His tactics included reaching out to former interns and colleagues at Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Flipboard. Field's approach paid off, and his company is now a $68 billion success.

Dylan Field, the CEO of Figma, achieved a remarkable feat by building his company into a $68 billion success story through unconventional methods. At the age of 19, Field founded Figma, an online design tool that has since become a staple in the industry. His approach to gaining traction involved reaching out to former colleagues and tech heroes through cold emails and coffee invitations.

Field's strategy began with leveraging his network from internships at Microsoft, LinkedIn, Flipboard, and O'Reilly Media. He sent cold emails to these individuals, asking them to try out his design tool and provide feedback. This approach was crucial in gaining the initial users needed to grow Figma [1].

Field's persistence did not end with his initial network. He also scoured the internet for designers whose work he admired and invited them for coffee if they agreed to meet. These meetings were not merely sales pitches but genuine attempts to connect with industry leaders and understand their needs. To his surprise, many of these designers replied positively, helping Figma gain traction and valuable insights [1].

Field's success is not unique. Other tech leaders have found similar success through bold outreach. Rashun Williams, a venture capitalist and host of Shark Tank, gained connections by "sneaking into the party" and approaching strangers at events. Sameer Samat, now a Google executive, cold-emailed Google co-founder Sergey Brin, which led to an interview and a job offer. Kinjil Mathur, the CMO of Squarespace, cold-called businesses from the phone book and offered to work for free, which later contributed to her success [1].

Figma's story demonstrates that hard work, determination, and genuine outreach can still lead to significant success in the tech industry. While modern technology offers numerous digital networking tools, the personal touch of cold emails and coffee meetings can still make a substantial difference.

References:
[1] https://fortune.com/2025/08/11/figma-billionaire-ceo-dylan-field-cold-emailing-calling-entrepreneurship-careers-linkedin-flipboard-coworkers-coffee/
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/how-figmas-billionaire-ceo-dylan-field-hustled-with-cold-emails-and-coffee-to-build-a-68-billion-empire/articleshow/123260816.cms