Zapier
 | |
| Original author(s) | Wade Foster, Bryan Helmig, Mike Knoop |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Zapier Inc. |
| Initial release | 2011 |
| Available in | English |
| Type | Task automation |
| Website | zapier |
Zapier is an American multinational software company that offers a platform for automation, integration, and artificial intelligence (AI) orchestration to connect software applications and manage workflows.[1]
History
[edit]Zapier was founded in 2011 in Columbia, Missouri, by Wade Foster, Bryan Helmig, and Mike Knoop.[2] The idea for Zapier first emerged on September 8, 2011, when Foster and Helmig discussed creating a software tool that would allow users to integrate multiple technology applications, having identified a growing demand for app connectivity.[3][4] Foster and Helmig, who were co-workers at Veterans United Home Loans, initiated the project, with Knoop joining later that year. For the first few months, the founders developed the software while maintaining their full-time jobs before officially launching Zapier.[5] After presenting their product idea at a Startup Weekend in Columbia from September 30 to October 2, 2011,[4] the three founders applied to Y Combinator, a Silicon Valley startup incubator, but were initially rejected. They reapplied a year later and were accepted after building a prototype and expanding their user base.[6] In November 2011, entrepreneur Andrew Warner, host of the startup podcast Mixergy, became Zapier's first customer, paying $100 for access to its beta integration product.[7]
The founders relocated to Mountain View, California, to launch Zapier.[3] However, from its inception, Zapier operated as a fully remote company—a work model that was uncommon at the time.[8][9] Zapier adopted a product-led growth (PLG) model, a strategy in which the product itself drove customer acquisition and retention, primarily through a self-serve experience.[10] In August 2012, Zapier launched its developer platform, which allowed developers to create and add private applications not yet supported in Zapier’s app directory.[11] At the time, Zapier supported over 60 applications. According to Foster, the platform was designed to help developers save time when building integrations. The launch was done in collaboration with 12 technology partners.[12]
In October 2012, Zapier received a $1.2 million seed round led by Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP), Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ), and several angel investors.[13] In the announcement, Zapier stated that the funds would be used to invest in its core and developer platforms.[8][14] The founders noted that BVP stood out for its immediate interest in the product, while DFJ was recognized for its expertise in selling enterprise software. Alongside the funding, Zapier announced the hiring of its first non-founding employee and outlined plans to build a robust customer support operation. The team also indicated that, with upcoming product enhancements, hiring one or two additional developers was under consideration.[15]
In March 2017, the company offered a "relocation package", consisting of a $10,000 moving reimbursement to employees who wished to leave the San Francisco Bay Area.[16]
In 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic spread, Zapier set up a $1 million small business assistance fund for struggling customers.[8]
Sequoia Capital and Steadfast Financial bought shares from some of the company's original investors in January 2021 at a valuation of $5 billion.[8][17]
In March 2021, the company acquired Makerpad, a no-code education service, for an undisclosed sum of money.[18]
As of January 2022, the company employs approximately 500 people in 38 countries.[19]
Products
[edit]Zapier provides workflows that allow different web applications to be used in the same workflow. Their products focus on automating recurring tasks, such as lead management.[20][21] Users can set up "rules" that set up the flow of data between different tools and services. [20][22][23]
References
[edit]- ^ Foster, Wade (April 29, 2025). "Meet Zapier's AI orchestration platform: Add AI agents to nearly 8,000 apps". Zapier.
- ^ Kumparak, Greg (9 March 2020). "Zapier CEO Wade Foster on scaling a remote team up to 300 employees". TechCrunch. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ a b "Zapier: The easiest way to automate your work". Y Combinator. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ a b Foster, Wade (October 31, 2012). "Zapier, 100+ Connected Services, a Year in Review". Zapier.
- ^ Feeler, Heather (27 August 2020). "Wade Foster, Co-founder & CEO at Zapier". Jefferson City Magazine.
- ^ Turnbull, Alex. "How Zapier Went From Zero to 600,000+ Users in Just Three Years". Groove.
- ^ Foster, Wade (June 25, 2012). "The Anatomy of Sales at a Startup or How Andrew Warner Became Our First Paying Customer". Zapier.
- ^ a b c d Konrad, Alex (8 March 2021). "Zapier's CEO Reveals How His Automation Startup Reached A $5 Billion Valuation Without Jumping On The VC 'Hamster Wheel'". Forbes. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ Marks, Gene (17 November 2019). "If employees want to work from home, why not let them?". The Guardian.
- ^ Herrera, Andrés (May 21, 2025). "How Zapier's sales team is leading our move upmarket". Zapier.
- ^ Foster, Wade (August 1, 2012). "Announcing the Zapier Developer Platform: Join HubSpot, Podio, and 12 Others". Zapier. Archived from the original on January 14, 2013.
- ^ Lardinois, Frederic (August 1, 2012). "YC-Backed Zapier, The IFTTT For Business Users, Launches Developer Platform". TechCrunch.
- ^ "Zapier Gets $1.2M Happier". PitchBook. November 1, 2012.
- ^ Lardinois, Frederic (October 31, 2012). "Zapier Raises $1.2M Seed Round From Bessemer Venture Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson & Others". TechCrunch.
- ^ "Zapier raises $1.2 million seed round, hires first employee". Silicon Prairie News. October 31, 2012.
- ^ Levin, Sam (22 March 2017). "Get outta town: startup offers workers $10,000 if they 'delocate' from Silicon Valley". The Guardian.
- ^ Clark, Kate (14 January 2021). "Sequoia Buys Shares in Elusive Startup Zapier at Multibillion-Dollar Valuation". The Information. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ^ Wilhelm, Alex (8 March 2021). "Zapier buys no-code-focused Makerpad in its first acquisition". TechCrunch.
- ^ "The rise of the 15-minute meeting — and how to run one". cnbc.com. 25 January 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ a b Finnegan, Matthew (2020-11-24). "Understanding Zapier, the workflow automation platform for business". computerworld.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ Glantz, Jen (2022-01-25). "5 digital tools that save me thousands of dollars a year as a small-business owner". businessinsider.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ Newman, Jared (2018-06-12). "Business-app automation kingpin Zapier has its eye on consumers". fastcompany.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ Asplund, Jan-Erik (2021-03-24). "Zapier: The $7B Netflix of Productivity". sacra.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
