Ivan Zhao

Early Life and Education

Ivan Zhao was born in China and later moved to Canada. He studied cognitive science at the University of British Columbia, a multidisciplinary field combining psychology, computer science, linguistics, and philosophy. This academic background nurtured his holistic approach to problem-solving.

Rise to Success

After university, Zhao worked as a designer, but his vision extended beyond aesthetics. He aimed to create a tool that combined beauty and function, empowering people to work and think better. In 2013, Zhao co-founded Notion Labs, Inc., in San Francisco, with Simon Last. The mission was to design a flexible, all-in-one workspace customizable without coding skills. Initially, the first version failed to resonate with users, facing funding scarcity and intense competition. Despite these challenges, Zhao's determination drove him to persevere. Notion's early success involved a close-knit team, with Zhao working on development. Notion's turning point came in 2019 when it hit 1 million users, marking its emergence in the market. From 2019 to 2020 the company saw 400% growth.

Key Business Strategies

Zhao's business philosophy is rooted in simplicity, design, and user empowerment. He focused on creating a product that would be adaptable, minimalistic, and driven by user feedback. Notion adopted a freemium model, which has been key to democratizing access. They are going all in on AI.

Philanthropy

While specific details are unavailable, Zhao is involved with the Reboot Student Fellowship.