Last week, we made the difficult decision to shut down Brightpod. I was part of the team that created the software in 2012—twelve years ago. That’s more than a decade of working on something truly special.
I loved every minute of working on Brightpod. From discussing new features and designing new screens to interacting with customers, debating icons and fonts, and choosing servers, every moment was a joy.
Before I moved to Australia, I can’t recall a moment when I traveled without my laptop. I was dedicated to ensuring our customers had a seamless experience with the software I poured my heart into. I felt a deep connection to Brightpod, and I wanted everyone who used it to have a fantastic experience.
Working on Brightpod made me a better developer. It taught me to focus not just on writing code but also on building software that is truly usable. I learned the importance of user experience, design, and customer feedback.
We had a great run. For ten years, we offered a product loved by thousands of users, with steadily increasing revenue. However, I had different plans for my life and moved to Australia. With the team reduced to just Sahil and I, we put the product in maintenance mode, focusing on server uptime, performance, and security fixes.
A lot changed in the last five years. Many new tools launched in the project management space, often offering more features for free than we could provide. At first, a few customers canceled, then more followed. The cost versus revenue numbers became unsustainable.
Early this year, we discussed the best path forward for Brightpod. After several rounds of deliberation, we decided to sunset the product. As I clicked the button to send out the email, I had tears in my eyes. I spent the last two days reflecting on all the great times I had working on Brightpod.
To our Brightpod customers: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving Brightpod a try. To Komal, Kartik, Himali, Swati, Vinay and Katie: Thank you for working on Brightpod with me. And a special thanks to Sahil for letting me be a part of this journey for all these years. It was a pleasure working with you.
So long, and thanks for all the fish.
