Figma's $68 Billion Success Story: How Dylan Field Used Cold Emails and Coffee to Build a Global Phenomenon

Figma's $68 billion success story began with cold emails, coffee chats, and persistence. At 19, Dylan Field sent emails to his network, asking for feedback on his design tool, Figma. He also reached out to designers he admired, inviting them for coffee and building relationships. Field's humble approach demonstrates that old-school hustle can outperform fancy business strategies in the tech world.

Figma's recent $68 billion valuation stands as a testament to the power of old-school hustle and persistence in the tech world. Dylan Field, the CEO of Figma, employed a direct networking strategy that involved unsolicited emails and coffee meetings with industry professionals to build the design platform's early foundation [1]. This grassroots approach not only secured early adopters and product feedback but also accelerated Figma's growth and credibility.

At the age of 19, Field began contacting former colleagues from LinkedIn, Flipboard, and O’Reilly Media. He sent unsolicited emails and offered to buy them coffee to discuss his vision for Figma. These informal interactions helped establish an initial user base and credibility for the product. Field's strategy 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 [1].

Field's tactics reflect a broader trend among entrepreneurs who have found success through direct, unconventional outreach. For instance, venture capitalist Rashun Williams 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].

References

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