Beyond the Long, Dark Tunnel

Ten years of remote work, five years of development, and a 300 million yen investment. Finally, after traversing a long, dark tunnel, we found our light. It was a glimpse of innovation we call "Connected."

People fundamentally desire connection. However, existing tools are built on the premise of "assuming the worst in people," creating unnecessary approval processes that create barriers between people. As a result, many have had to rely on asynchronous communication.

The Pattern of World-Changing Innovation

"What if people are simply seeking a 'state' where they can talk immediately?"

As we delved deeper into this hypothesis, we began to see a pattern common to products that have changed the world. It was "counter-intuitiveness" ≒ "paradigm shift away from assuming the worst in people."

• Tinder's "Swipe"

• Zenly's "Location Sharing"

• Figma's "WebGL & Web Collaboration"

• WhatsApp's "Read Receipts"

These innovations might seem dangerous at first glance. However, through the power of technology and design, they've created entirely new value:

• Tinder transformed from "meeting strangers is dangerous" to "I found my life partner"

• Zenly shifted from "sharing location is scary" to "meeting up is easy, and we connect more often without reason"

• Figma evolved from "if this is the future of design, I'll quit" to "real-time collaboration wasn't so scary after all"

• WhatsApp changed from "I don't like others knowing I've read messages" to "the most convenient, simple, and reliable chat platform"

These solutions present counter-intuitive approaches to social paradigms based on assuming the worst, achieving overwhelming "reduction in experiential friction."

Bird and Lime in San Francisco follow the same pattern. Dockless public scooters seem like the worst idea when assuming the worst in people. After all, they could be abandoned anywhere, cause accidents, or get stolen. Yet, through technology and design, they've created a system that works.

It's the worst idea, and that's what makes it the best.

http://startupclass.samaltman.com/courses/lec01/

Teracy's Discovery of "Connected"

And so we arrived at our answer: "Connected."

Building on our learnings from transceiver UX about "low cognitive load design," we aimed for an even more fundamental innovation. The result is providing a "Connected" state - "already being connected" - a counter-intuitive approach.

Initially, we received expected reactions: "Automatically connecting when opened?" "I don't want to be constantly connected."

However, after some time, many users now say "communication has become overwhelmingly simple."

Teracy's surface-level core is "Open, and your team is there."

• Automatically online when you open your PC - no effort required (Auto Online)

  • This also solved the activation challenge of existing virtual offices

• Real-time status is automatically shared - no effort needed for visibility (Live Status)

A Paradigm Shift is Occurring

To summarize, this idea might seem like "a bad idea" at first glance.

But that's precisely why it has the potential to change the world.

Reclaiming Global Connection

"We make the Future of Work. Link the World, Unleash Opportunity."

On the surface, it might look like just another "virtual office tool" or "remote work tool." However, what Teracy pursues is the deeper possibility of "Connected." This concept forms the foundation of all our design and long-term vision.

The future of Teracy includes:

• Connected experiences across multiple spaces (simultaneous presence)

• Mobile-native connected experiences (automatic status sharing without opening the app)

• Universal provision of the state where "your team is already there"

The concept of "Connected" has the potential to fundamentally change how people communicate and collaborate, creating a richer and more efficient future. Beyond the context of work, it realizes a world where "people can live together even when apart."

In Closing

To you, curious enough to read this far, you're likely someone who wants to change the world. Even when faced with difficulties, don't give up on creating your ideal world.

A few years of struggles are trivial in the grand scheme of life. Teracy is just getting started - let's change the world together.

"Let's be passionate. We only live once."

We will make Teracy the global default for communication, restore people's connections, and create a society free from geographical constraints and opportunity gaps.

To make the world a better place.

— Shunsuke Morii / Founder of Teracy