What can you learn from Prezi?
Prezi is probably the fastest growing company in the CEE region. Prezi’s zooming presentation software is closing in on 10 million users and adding around a million users a month, a growth rate on par with Evernote and SoundCloud (two of the most commercially successful Web Apps). The company has been cash-flow positive since its first year of operations and has recently closed a $14 million Series B, led by Accel Partners, the first investor in Facebook.
Peter, what is the secret of Prezi’s success?
We have a product that addresses a real need—the need to share ideas in a more fun and inspiring way. Of course there is more to it: we work hard, we take risks, and we trust our people! And we fool around a bit.
How is life at Prezi?
We keep the startup spirit alive—just like Facebook and Google—even as the company grows exponentially. We do not fear uncertainty: we have the guts to try hard and accept failure. We research a lot, experiment, and A/B test almost everything we do.  We do not just implement UML diagrams. We change daily, deploy, and work in small cross-functional teams instead of departments. We take end-to-end responsibility. We do not make promises we can not keep. We love diversity—one fifth of our employees are international, spanning the globe from South Korea to Chile.
How is the startup environment in Budapest?
It is still in its infancy, however there has been acute growth over the past few years. Emerging entrepreneurs now have several role models to learn from—UStream, LogMeIn, Indextools. And now, Prezi. Do not compare Budapest to Silicon Valley but to Berlin, which has become a vital center for entrepreneurship in recent years.
In many Hungarian companies, there is no distinction made between good and bad performance; therefore, individuals are not incentivized for achievement. To compete in the international marketplace, we must start rewarding performance and English language skills!
What is your greatest challenge?
Finding great employees who thrive in Prezi’s intense and fast-pace culture, and who can help us manage our exponential global growth.
How about the figures?
Prezi was founded in 2007. We are probably the fastest growing company in the CEE region. We are closing in on 10 million users and adding around a million users a month, a growth rate is on a par with Evernote and SoundCloud (two of the most commercially successful Web Apps). We have been cash-flow positive since our first year of operations and have recently closed a $14 million Series B, led by Accel Partners, the first investor in Facebook. We have 70 employees as of today and want to grow to 100 by the end of the year. Last year Prezi paid HUF 150 m in taxes in Hungary, this year it is going to be more like 300 or $ 1,5 m!
What is your vision?
We want to make sharing ideas more fun and inspiring. Why? Because it is through sharing ideas that we change the world. If ideas are boring, they die. Therefore, we aim to develop a top-class productivity tool, a platform for idea sharing and storytelling. We would like for Prezi to be adopted by every sector—from academia to government—where sharing inspiring ideas results in intellectual and social change.
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