# Wikipedia: Jimmy Wales (2018)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-01-27
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-27-wikipedia-jimmy-wales-2018

## Summary

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, explains how he pivoted from the failed Nupedia project to launch Wikipedia using wiki software, creating a non-profit model funded by donations to avoid commercial bias. He discusses the early challenges of scaling the platform, managing a volunteer community, and establishing editorial policies in response to high-profile controversies. The episode also features Leigh D'Angelo and her sister Casey, who created the dating app 'Dig' to help dog owners find compatible partners, detailing their journey from idea to launch and their city-by-city growth strategy.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-27-wikipedia-jimmy-wales-2018#t=0) Introduction: Jimmy Wales and the Dot-Com Era
- [7:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-27-wikipedia-jimmy-wales-2018#t=444) From Nupedia to Wikipedia: The Pivot to Open Collaboration
- [19:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-27-wikipedia-jimmy-wales-2018#t=1195) The Non-Profit Model and Early Fundraising
- [26:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-27-wikipedia-jimmy-wales-2018#t=1572) Handling Controversy and Editorial Policy
- [33:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-27-wikipedia-jimmy-wales-2018#t=1994) Community Dynamics and Volunteer Motivation
- [39:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-27-wikipedia-jimmy-wales-2018#t=2342) Post-Script: Leigh D'Angelo and the Creation of Dig

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Wikipedia (product)
- Nupedia (product)
- Bombas (company)
- Yahoo (company)
- Google (company)
- Dig (product)
- Purina (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- NPR (company)
- USA Today (company)
- CNN (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [085: Scaling Your Product Up After Crowdfunding](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-07-21-085-scaling-your-product-up-after-crowdfunding) (Product Startup)
- [86: Madeupical Word](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word) (Embedded.fm)
- [Rooting for the Home Team with Paul Freedman and Bryan Carmel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2026-05-27-rooting-for-the-home-team-with-paul-freedman-and-bryan-carmel) (Oxide and Friends)
- [375: $52,000,000](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2022-10-28-375-52-000-000) (Making It)
- [Episode 101: Hot news in the library world](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-12-16-episode-101-hot-news-in-the-library-world) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-27-wikipedia-jimmy-wales-2018. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.