OutSmth

I am sharing here a message I shared with the StarkWare team following things I said at an All Hands meeting: ======== StarkWare is adapting its strategy, with a clear goal – to lead blockchain. So far, we’ve secured our position as technology leaders: we built the best ZK proving blockchain technology. Cairo, Sierra, Post-Quantum, etc. More than anyone in the industry, StarkWare demonstrated the potential of ZK and STARK technology and has set the standard. Each and every StarkWare employee should be extremely proud. Why do we need a new strategy? We initially focused on scaling L1s, building the most advanced scaling stack. But infrastructure alone does not win the game, and although different apps demonstrate where our technology shines, we are not playing our full hand. We can do better. It is now time to convert our technological superiority into tangible revenue and significant usage, with high emphasis on products that can be powered only by our technological moat. To execute this, we must change how StarkWare operates. New focus: We're shifting from doing many things well to doing fewer things excellently. Emphasis is on things with large potential value that only we can build, that only our stack, the best in the world, can unleash and make come true. We’re adopting a new mindset: Moving fast, in small teams, doing a lot of experimentation, and being confident to rapidly iterate to find PMF. This is a mindset that differs from the way we currently operate, and it’s one that will be rewarding. It’s a bit like going back to startup mode, but taking into account all that we’ve learned from building the best infrastructure in the world. Big picture: There’s a vacuum in blockchain leadership today – this poses a challenge but also an immense opportunity for StarkWare and Starknet. We’re playing to win. More details next week. New structure: - 2 purpose-focused units, one led by Avihu and one led by Tom as general managers (GM) - Each of these two units will manage internally its dedicated BD/eng/product/GTM. Very sadly, as part of this process, we are downsizing. Our new strategy requires that we move fast, and we’re too big and too inefficient for that. So, we are making a tough but responsible decision to become smaller and more flexible. This is painful because we are parting from excellent people. I deeply appreciate each and everyone of you. We will do our best to soften this parting, in many jurisdictions going beyond what law and contract dictate. Those we’re considering parting from, will shortly receive an email invitation for a 1-1 meeting with management. I know this is difficult news, and I wish we could have avoided it but our commitment to our mission dictates that we make it. For those staying, we recognize this is a dramatic change and we’ll talk to each of you as well, but will do so after talking to those affected most by this change. To all, we are available to discuss whatever is on your mind, during the hearings and outside of them. I myself am available over the next days for each and every one of you, simply step in, write, or call me. I want to hear you if you want to be heard. Summary: We built the best, safest, most battle-tested ZK tech in blockchain. We’ve redefined blockchain using our technology, but that’s not enough. I’m anticipating with confidence our next chapter, in which we use it to advance exciting novel products that generate revenue and which cannot be built on other blockchains today. It’s a huge challenge, that requires a large and painful change, and will require immense effort. I’m confident that our reorganized structure, focus and strategy, position us well to go after this ambitious goal, winning and leading blockchain. Let’s get to it.