# Groupon and Descript: Andrew Mason

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2024-09-09
- Length: 1h 11m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-09-09-groupon-and-descript-andrew-mason

## Summary

Andrew Mason, co-founder of Groupon and founder of Descript, recounts his journey from a failed startup called The Point to building Groupon, the fastest-growing company in history, and his subsequent firing as CEO. He details the strategic pivot to daily deals, the rapid expansion, and the strategic decision to reject acquisition offers from Yahoo and Google in favor of a massive IPO. After being fired, Mason launched Detour, an audio tour app, which failed to gain traction but led to the creation of Descript, an audio and video editing platform that reimagines editing as a word processor.

## Chapters

- [0:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-09-09-groupon-and-descript-andrew-mason#t=57) Introduction: Andrew Mason and the Groupon Story
- [6:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-09-09-groupon-and-descript-andrew-mason#t=369) Early Ventures: Policy Tree and The Point
- [15:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-09-09-groupon-and-descript-andrew-mason#t=910) The Pivot to Groupon and Early Traction
- [26:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-09-09-groupon-and-descript-andrew-mason#t=1565) Scaling, Clones, and Rejection of Acquisition Offers
- [41:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-09-09-groupon-and-descript-andrew-mason#t=2485) The IPO, Decline, and Firing
- [58:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-09-09-groupon-and-descript-andrew-mason#t=3516) Post-Groupon: Detour and the Birth of Descript

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Groupon (company)
- Descript (company)
- The Point (product)
- Policy Tree (product)
- Detour (product)
- Yahoo (company)
- Google (company)
- NEA (company)
- Woot (company)
- Y Combinator (company)

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- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 9 - Rusty Meadows (10/21)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-05-afterschool-podcast-episode-9-rusty-meadows-10-21) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Founder Feature:  Elan Halpern & Kiki Couchman of Sourmilk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-07-founder-feature-elan-halpern-kiki-couchman-of-sourmilk) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
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## Citing this page

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