Zoe (Bauer) Wellner

chief of staff @linear

[Linear @linear]

Introducing coding sessions.

Linear Agent can now triage issues, investigate the cause, write the fix, open a PR, and bring the code back for review.

All shared with your team in Linear.

[Linear @linear]

Issue tracking is dead.
We are building what comes next.

https://t.co/JM2d4mAEEB

[Linear @linear]

IN SOFTWARE YOU ARE
BUILDING SANDCASTLES (2025)

A short film about life and work at Linear.

[Linear @linear]

We raised a Series C at a $1.25B valuation, led by Accel.

Now back to building and continuing our mission to inspire and accelerate builders.

In this next stage, Linear is becoming the place where teams, AI, and agents build software together.

→ https://t.co/zcu8JExOmj

[Karri Saarinen @karrisaarinen]

The Profitable Startup;

Once you're profitable, you stop worrying about survival and focus on what really matters: building something great. Building the way you want.

https://t.co/1ScGxwhDYR

[Linear @linear]

Great talent deserves great tools.

The best product teams build
with Linear. And they are hiring.

https://t.co/IflbvdcLig

[Karri Saarinen @karrisaarinen]

Yesterday, @linear turned 6:

- Team: 70
- 10K+ companies are planning and building with Linear
- Enterprise ARR grew 2000% + first Fortune 100 customer signed
- Net Revenue Retention 140%+
- Net operating income grew by over 1400% (life negative burn & profitability continues)

[Linear @linear]

CONVERSATIONS
ON QUALITY (E08)

Kevin Twohy (@kevintwohy), Founder & Principal at Twohy Design Works, shares how feedback and iteration shapes the final product.

[Linear @linear]

CONVERSATIONS
ON QUALITY (E07)

Basheer Tome, Product & Design at Fellow, outlines the phases of bringing a quality product from concept to launch.

[Zoe (Bauer) Wellner @zoewellner]

My sister @_adena_n and I are always comparing notes and learning from each other, so sitting down with her was the most natural thing in the world. Thanks for your thoughtful perspective on quality at @browsercompany. Such fun.

[Linear @linear]

CONVERSATIONS
​ON QUALITY (E05)

Adena Nadler, Membership Lead at the Browser Company, shares how to build with users.

[Linear @linear]

CONVERSATIONS
​ON QUALITY (E04)

Henry Modisett highlights the importance of fast iteration and the qualities he looks for in his team.

[Linear @linear]

CONVERSATIONS
​ON QUALITY (E03)

Jeff Weinstein explores how to
pick problems truly worth solving.

[Karri Saarinen @karrisaarinen]

@linear @dickc Also check out the website the team built at https://t.co/km7HKtpO6f

[Linear @linear]

CONVERSATIONS
ON QUALITY (2024)
​
​A limited series.
​Premieres Oct 11.

[Zoe (Bauer) Wellner @zoewellner]

Year-end planning also requires more time from leads since we essentially have to align twice (before and after holidays).

This December we focused on keeping momentum, and enjoying the break too.

[Karri Saarinen @karrisaarinen]

I recently realized that annual planning doesn't work that well, meaning following a calendar year for your roadmap or planning. Boards often ask, "What is your plan for 2024?" My answer to this is what we are doing now and what comes next.

The problem with calendar year planning is that there is rush to complete things before the year ends, but you cannot launch or beta test features as customers are not paying attention.

Then when the team comes back from the end-of-year break, there is this momentum lost and they have to think about launching the features as well as picking up new projects from the 2024 roadmap.

You effectively rush to do exactly nothing and lose all the momentum with the holiday break.

What we do instead at @linear:
We plan in the spring and fall, creating summer and winter roadmaps. We have noticed that this works well because in Jan the team can pick up the projects they were already working in the and finish them in Q1, which is also a great time to release new things.

Then we do our next planning in spring, followed by our company-wide offsite in May to discuss it. Afterward, we put our heads down and work on these things until Sep-Oct, which is again a good time for releases, and then we head off to plan for the winter.

We did our planning last fall, which we called "Execution Mode," where everything basically focused on 2 product initiatives, Planning and Discovery and now we are pretty much 80% done and ready to enter some beta stages.

[Zoe (Bauer) Wellner @zoewellner]

@_adenab Would actually be wild to go back and listen to our calls

[Zoe (Bauer) Wellner @zoewellner]

At @Linear candidates get to do paid test run working on the team before they decide to join. By the time they start - they know us, are familiar with how we work, and ramp up quickly.

It's been a meaningful part of our culture from the beginning.

[Karri Saarinen @karrisaarinen]

Many told me that work trials won't work or won't scale.

Over the last 4 years, we hired 50+ people with work trials and with a 96% retention rate. Everyone from engineers to C-level candidates goes through one.

The best way for both parties to test if there is a fit.

[Linear @linear]

We’re excited to share that we raised a $35M Series B led by @Accel, with participation from @sequoia and @01Advisors, to help Linear build the best-in-class project and issue tracking system

https://t.co/FsHZCFsWoY

[Zoe (Bauer) Wellner @zoewellner]

@jorilallo @andrewparker @jerrycolonna @justworks @andrewparker Helpful article from Justworks: https://t.co/ckLrJeAenT. In our case we also have to register for sales tax in WA, which is a separate registration and i think more case by case.

[Zoe (Bauer) Wellner @zoewellner]

@jorilallo @andrewparker @jerrycolonna @justworks Wish it was more intuitive. I rely heavily on Justworks support, they’re pretty good. Outside Justworks, we did have to register in WA for unemployment insurance (our accounting firm did it for us). The PEO will need the account info once you get it back in the mail from WA.