cover of episode Paperless Post: James and Alexa Hirschfeld

Paperless Post: James and Alexa Hirschfeld

2024/10/7
logo of podcast How I Built This with Guy Raz

How I Built This with Guy Raz

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James Hirschfeld had the idea for Paperless Post while planning his 21st birthday party. He wanted invitations that combined the beauty of paper with the ease of digital communication. He partnered with his sister Alexa, who recognized the potential despite initial investor skepticism.
  • James Hirschfeld's 21st birthday party sparked the idea for digital invitations.
  • Initial investor skepticism focused on the perceived unwillingness of people to pay for digital invitations.
  • Alexa Hirschfeld joined as co-founder, recognizing the potential market for premium digital invitations.

Shownotes Transcript

In 2007, when James Hirschfeld got the idea to start an online invitation company, the first person he turned to for help was his older sister, Alexa. Together, they were inspired to create a brand that combined the ease of digital correspondence with the beauty of paper.

Along the way, the founders faced myriad challenges: convincing investors that people would pay for virtual paper, settling on the right business model, and—worst of all-- the existential threat of Covid. 15 years after launch - Paperless Post has sent over 650 million invitations, and has even been parodied on Saturday Night Live.

This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Neva Grant, with research by J.C Howard. Our engineers were Robert Rodriguez and James Willetts.

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