Founder Mode: How Codeium builds product, from 0 to 1M users

Founder Mode is a series that uncovers how founders and early leaders operate at today's standout startups. Codeium, a company founded by Kevin Hou, has scaled from zero to over a million users, reached a $1.25 billion valuation, and grown to a team of 130+. The company started with friends and family as its earliest users and gradually gained organic growth, eventually reaching a point where inbound interest from enterprises became significant. Codeium's product philosophy was to earn the right to exist by offering a free model, differentiating itself from competitors like GitHub Copilot, and leveraging its expertise in machine learning infrastructure. The company has prioritized relentless dogfooding, quick iteration cycles, and bold bets over incremental improvements. With a mission to dream bigger about how AI can enhance software development, Codeium's product decision-making is guided by the question of what's needed to achieve that vision. As the company has grown, Kevin Hou has adjusted his role, handing off responsibilities such as marketing and website management to other team members, and focusing on high-level decisions and strategy.