The Genesis
Three minds, Alex Shevchenko, Maxim Lytvyn, and Dmitry Lider, while studying at the International Christian University in Ukraine, noticed a prevalent challenge. A significant fraction of students struggled with English writing, leading many to resort to plagiarising essays from the internet. Recognizing the issue at hand, the trio set out to offer a solution.
The First Leap
Their initial venture, MyDropBox, was a plagiarism checker that aimed to maintain academic integrity. This technology soon gained popularity, reaching 800 universities globally and amassing over two million users. Despite its success, the founders sold MyDropBox to Blackboard, a leading educational platform.
The Birth of Grammarly
Leveraging their experience and network from MyDropBox, the founders launched Grammarly in 2009. The new product aimed at a similar audience but offered a broader range of services. Grammarly sought to assist English writers by correcting grammatical errors, thereby building their confidence in their work.
Growth and Expansion
Grammarly's growth was marked by continuous learning and expansion. The founders soon realised that their product found application beyond academia, extending to personal emails and professional correspondence. Consequently, Grammarly gradually transitioned to a freemium model, making English writing assistance accessible to all.
A Global Impact
With a growing user base, Grammarly began to expand its offerings. Recognizing the importance of effective communication in the workplace, Grammarly Business was launched. The service aimed to foster constructive collaboration within organizations and facilitate consistent, effective, and on-brand communication.
The Ascent to 30 Million Users
Grammarly's user base skyrocketed from one million daily active users in 2015 to 30 million in 2020. With its expansion into the enterprise sector, Grammarly Business began serving 30,000 professional teams across various industries.
The Power of AI
From its humble beginnings focused on English grammar, Grammarly has evolved into a comprehensive writing assistant. Leveraging advancements in AI and machine learning, Grammarly now offers full-sentence rewrites, tone adjustments, and fluency suggestions, among other features.
Recognition and Validation
Grammarly's efforts have not gone unnoticed. The company has received $200 million in funding from top-tier firms, been named one of the World's Most Innovative AI Companies by Fast Company, and included in Forbes' The Cloud 100.
Team Grammarly
Grammarly's success can be attributed to its exceptional team. Spanning offices in San Francisco, Kyiv, New York City, and Vancouver, each member contributes to the extraordinary growth of Grammarly. The company provides a platform where individuals can grow professionally while making a positive impact on millions of users.
The Present and the Future
Today, Grammarly stands as a global brand with a strong reputation. The product has evolved beyond a simple spell-checker to an AI-powered assistant that enhances the quality of written communication.
Conclusion
Grammarly's journey is a classic tale of innovation, resilience, and growth. From its roots as a plagiarism checker to becoming a comprehensive AI-powered writing assistant, Grammarly has truly redefined the landscape of written communication.