Descriptions:
Recorded live at the New Media Summit, Erik Torenberg sits down with Replit founder and CEO Amjad Masad to discuss founder-led storytelling, building in public, and the role of media in company building.
Masad reflects on Replit’s decade-long journey, including the years before the company’s recent breakout growth, and explains why communicating a vision can be just as important as executing on it. He argues that for many founders, especially those building ambitious products ahead of the market, telling a compelling story is often necessary to attract talent, capital, and early believers.
The conversation explores social media, authenticity, public communication, company-building, and how founders can develop a voice that resonates beyond their product. Along the way, Masad shares lessons from building Replit, navigating controversy, and why he believes founders should think carefully about when to go direct and what story they’re trying to tell.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
00:52 – How Going Direct Saved Replit
02:38 – Improv, Exposure Therapy & Making Mistakes Early
05:20 – Build in Public & the Power of Authenticity
08:40 – Being Uncancellable: Why Retreating Is the Real Risk
13:21 – When to Respond & When to Let It Go
17:39 – Does Every CEO Need to Be an Influencer?
19:38 – Platform Strategy: X vs Instagram vs YouTube
22:53 – Understanding the Meta: How to Actually Go Viral
Resources:
Follow Amjad Masad on X: https://x.com/amasad
Follow Erik Torenberg on X: https://x.com/eriktorenberg
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