Transforming Release Communication with Makelog
In today’s fast-paced software development landscape, communication between engineering and product teams is crucial for success. However, this can be a daunting task, especially when there are rapid changes happening continuously. JJ Nguyen, founder and CEO of Makelog, experienced this firsthand during her time in product management and customer success positions at companies like Segment, Scale AI, and Warby Parker.
The Problem with Traditional Change Logs
Nguyen recounts the struggles she faced trying to get updates from the engineering team on upcoming changes. It was a constant process of asking engineers about what’s changing, which wasn’t always easy since they were focused on making those changes. She described it as an "information horse trading" where she had to go bug the engineers and swap context with them to get what she needed.
The Birth of Makelog
Nguyen realized that there must be a better way to manage communication between teams, especially considering how fast-paced software development has become. This led her to start Makelog, a release communications platform aimed at helping fast-shipping software teams match their rate of release communication with their shipping velocity – what she calls "continuous communication."
Makelog: A New Approach to Release Communication
Makelog is not just another change log; it’s designed to be a tool that helps everyone involved in the development process get the information they need, when they need it. The platform allows internal teams and customers to filter updates based on their interests, ensuring that only relevant information reaches them.
Transforming the Traditional Change Log
Nguyen’s vision is to transform traditional change logs by encouraging communication at a minimum marketable unit level. This means making it easy for teams to route individual updates to the right people at the right time. Makelog integrates deeply with source tools like GitHub and Jira, creating a new workflow where teams can see what’s shipped, triage what needs to be communicated, and get updates out quickly using context already captured.
Early Successes and Plans
Makelog has already seen early successes with customers like Monte Carlo, Armory, and PopSQL. Nguyen uses the platform internally for two-way communications between her team. With a current team size of six employees (Nguyen and five engineers), Makelog is introducing its product publicly for the first time today.
$3 Million Seed Investment
The company has secured a $3 million seed investment led by Accel with participation from Basecamp Fund, Formulate Ventures, Bluewatch Ventures, and several industry angels. This funding will help Makelog expand its reach and further develop its platform to meet the growing demand for release communications solutions.
Conclusion
Makelog is poised to revolutionize how software product teams communicate changes to customers. With a focus on continuous communication and integrating deeply with source tools, Nguyen’s vision is to make traditional change logs more useful for everyone involved. As the tech industry continues to evolve at an incredible pace, Makelog is well-positioned to help teams keep up.
About Makelog
Makelog is a release communications platform designed to help fast-shipping software teams match their rate of release communication with their shipping velocity. The company’s mission is to help technical and business teams grow in the same direction and converge on a common language.
Learn More
To learn more about Makelog, visit their website at www.makelog.com.
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