Early Life and Education
Ivan Zhao's journey began with a passion for coding, which he developed as a child. He studied programming in elementary school. Zhao pursued his higher education at the University of British Columbia, where he focused on cognitive science and fine arts. He also studied computing and philosophy. His interest in aesthetics and design started during his college years, and he took photographs.
Rise to Success
After graduating, Zhao began his career at Inkling, where he learned the importance of teamwork. In 2013, he co-founded Notion Labs, Inc. with Simon Last. The initial goal was to create an all-in-one workspace. After initial struggles and setbacks, including a near collapse in 2015, the team regrouped, rebuilt their product, and released Notion 1.0 in 2016. In 2020, Notion achieved unicorn status with a $50 million investment. The company's valuation reached $10 billion after a $275 million Series C funding round in October 2021. Notion has grown to over 100 million users globally.
Key Business Strategies
Zhao's approach to leadership prioritizes both aesthetics and functionality. He emphasizes simplicity and versatility in Notion, drawing inspiration from early computing pioneers. Notion's focus on solving user problems and adapting to the market has been key to its success. The integration of AI has further enhanced Notion's capabilities, making it a leader in the productivity space.
Philanthropy
Philanthropic activities could not be found from search results.