2004 founded Standing
project-management · basecamp.com
Basecamp
the moat is real
22 years 197 days and counting
37signals, 2004. Also the company that gave the world Rails, then kept selling project software.
Why it lasted
- It is the product of a company that treats not growing as a feature.
- The same people still write the software. That is rarer than any framework they shipped.
- Teams that hated the other tools' ceremony found a box that stays a box.
Times it almost ended
- Asana, Jira, Monday, Notion: each one was supposed to make Basecamp look small. Small was the point.
- The 2021 internal politics blow-up cost staff and reputation. The product kept getting used.
What would finish it
- Founders retiring without a steward. The company is the moat.
Questions
Is Basecamp still up?
Yes, with a Standing verdict: the moat is real. Founded 2004.
How long has Basecamp been around?
Basecamp has been up since 2004-02-05.
Why did Basecamp survive?
It is the product of a company that treats not growing as a feature.
Could Basecamp still die?
Founders retiring without a steward. The company is the moat.