Dylan Field Built Figma Into $68 Billion Company Using Cold Outreach and Early Networking

Dylan Field, CEO of Figma, used cold outreach to early career connections to build a foundation for the design platform before it became a $68 billion company [1]. At age 19, Field began contacting former colleagues from LinkedIn, Flipboard, and O’Reilly Media, sending unsolicited emails and offering to buy them coffee to discuss his vision. These interactions, though informal, helped establish an initial user base and credibility for the product. Field described the tactic as a crucial part of Figma’s early growth during a recent talk at Y Combinator’s AI startup school, emphasizing how direct outreach allowed him to identify early adopters and gather feedback [1].

Field’s approach was driven by persistence and a willingness to engage with those he respected in the industry. After leaving Brown University for the Thiel Fellowship, he relied on connections made during internships at Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Flipboard. He identified influential designers and technologists online and reached out to them personally, often treating them as mentors or heroes. Many responded to his outreach, leading to one-on-one meetings where he pitched Figma as a collaborative design tool. Field credited this grassroots approach for helping the product gain momentum before it scaled [1].

His tactics reflect a broader trend among entrepreneurs who have found success through direct, unconventional outreach. For instance, venture capitalist Rashun Williams, now a Shark Tank host, used a similar strategy by inserting himself into high-level business events and conversations. Google executive Sameer Samat also leveraged a cold email to co-founder Sergey Brin in his 20s, which led to a pivotal opportunity. Similarly, Kinjil Mathur, CMO of a $7.2 billion company, cold-called businesses while in college to secure internships, often offering to work for free if needed [1].

Field’s story underscores how personal initiative and strategic networking can drive early-stage success. Rather than waiting for opportunities to come to him, he created his own by targeting his professional network and reaching out to key individuals directly. His efforts laid the groundwork for Figma’s eventual rise as a dominant design tool, proving that sometimes the most effective strategies are also the most direct [1].

Source: [1] Fortune, [https://fortune.com/2025/08/11/figma-billionaire-ceo-dylan-field-cold-emailing-calling-entrepreneurship-careers-linkedin-flipboard-coworkers-coffee/](https://fortune.com/2025/08/11/figma-billionaire-ceo-dylan-field-cold-emailing-calling-entrepreneurship-careers-linkedin-flipboard-coworkers-coffee/)