I can hardly believe it’s been a decade since Beefree’s humble beginnings.
The first version of Beefree launched on October 18, 2014. We shared our excitement on Hacker News, and to our complete surprise, 20,000 people visited our minimalist-looking website in the first weekend. I remember thinking, “What??? We’re famous!!”
A few days later, the hype died down, and we realized that no one had signed up for anything. For some back story, when Beefree first launched, we envisioned it as a growth marketing experiment for MailUp, an Italy-based email marketing platform.
We thought, "We’ll provide marketers with a free email builder and pitch them MailUp after they finish designing their email: many of them will sign up!" Except… nope. While people loved our email builder, they were loyal to the platforms they were using to send their emails. It’s safe to say that the experiment failed.
But this was the start of bringing something to the market that many were in dire need of. In fact, we got a ton of unexpected feedback. One comment on Hacker News stood out: “Any chance of Beefree being embeddable, either as a service or open source?"
From that comment came our first sale of “Beefree” for the license of an embeddable version of our email editor.
10 years later, our content builder, Beefree SDK, is embedded in over 1,000 SaaS applications worldwide, including some of the biggest names in tech. Roughly half a million people per month, across all of those applications, use Beefree to design a massive amount of emails, landing pages, and other digital content.
While our product has always been key to our growth, we wouldn’t be where we are today without a truly passionate group of people who deeply care about their work. In ten years, the team has grown from 6 to over 100, spanning Europe and the United States.
So what better way to celebrate this important milestone, than to hear from the very voices of the amazing people that have been sharing in this adventure?
To you who are reading—thank you for being a part of this wonderful evolution. We can’t wait to see what’s next.
Massimo Arrigoni
Beefree Founder & CEO
Reflecting on a decade: 8 employees share about their time at Beefree
#1: The power of teamwork is priceless
As we celebrate a decade of innovation and growth, I can’t help but marvel at the journey. When I joined 7 years ago, there were just 9 of us, fueled by passion and vision. Now, we’ve grown into a dynamic team of over 100, each one of us playing a vital role in this success story.
My path to this company was anything but ordinary. After years of freelancing, launching businesses, and even co-founding a startup, I took a leap of faith to join this team—and I haven’t looked back. The greatest reward? Realizing that nothing compares to the thrill of achieving a goal as a team. The collective energy, shared ambition, and that moment of victory together—it's simply unbeatable.
Being part of this journey, with a team that’s constantly evolving, always aiming higher, and embracing every challenge, has been an incredible adventure.
Here’s to the next chapter of us pushing boundaries, breaking new ground, and doing it all together.
“The greatest reward? Realizing that nothing compares to the thrill of achieving a goal as a team.”
- Matteo Santagata, Full Stack Engineer Associate Manager
#2: Build something that matters
Saying I’ve been working on Beefree SDK for 7 years feels totally normal to me. But every now and then, someone reminds me that it's actually rather extraordinary in the tech world. Some engineers switch roles every couple of years, trying them on like new pairs of shoes. Not too long ago, at a trade show, a young sales engineer looked at me, astonished, and said, “You must really love the work.” I just smiled, took a moment to reflect, and simply nodded, “Yes, yes, I really do.”
It wasn’t exactly a grand revelation, but it gave me pause. We’ve all heard the saying, "If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life." It’s cliché for a reason, but that was the first time it clicked for me: Seven years doesn’t feel like seven years.
It’s hard to point to just one reason why.
It’s a mix of so many things—the culture of trust, the tangible impact of the features we build, like improving accessibility so someone can create content on their own for the first time. It’s all of those experiences combined that make the journey worth it. And honestly, I can easily see myself saying the same thing at our 20-year anniversary, still feeling like it all started yesterday.
“It’s a mix of so many things—the culture of trust, the tangible impact of the features we build, like improving accessibility so someone can create content on their own for the first time.”
- Matt Weber, Senior Software Architect
#3: Building community and growing across borders
I started working at Beefree in 2014, and it has been an incredible journey that I feel grateful to reflect on today. My time here has been filled with learning, growth, and some unexpected turns—most notably my move from Milan to Denmark in 2016. What could have been a challenging transition was made seamless by the company’s support, allowing me to continue working remotely from my new home.
Living in Denmark for the past years has profoundly shaped me. Denmark is a country built on the values of equality, trust, and community—principles that resonate deeply within Danish culture. One fun cultural aspect I encountered is “janteloven”, or “the law of Jante”, a Nordic philosophy that emphasizes humility and equality, discouraging any form of boasting or thinking of oneself as superior. It’s a reflection of how strongly Danes value the collective over the individual.
What I found most surprising was how these learnings from living in Denmark paralleled my experience at Beefree. Just like Denmark’s culture, Beefree emphasizes a sense of community and the importance of trust. This has taught me how critical teamwork is, and how much more enriching it is to celebrate successes as a team rather than just as individuals. There is something truly special about being part of a team where mutual trust and shared values create an environment where everyone can thrive.
Over the past decade, I’ve learned that both in work and in life, the real magic happens when people come together. The experience has taught me that no matter how far we are from each other geographically, a strong sense of community and shared purpose can keep us connected. As I look forward to the future, I am excited to keep building on these values with my colleagues at Beefree, growing together, one step at a time.
“I’ve learned that both in work and in life, the real magic happens when people come together.”
- Cinzia Tavernini, Senior Account Manager
#4: Embrace change
The idea of celebrating our tenth anniversary feels almost surreal. Has it really been ten years since we launched beefree.io?
Breaking down this journey into years, months, or days is hard. Looking back, I vividly recall the excitement and nervous energy as we launched the beta version, reaching out to connect with people around the globe. We called out, “We’re here to help you and learn with you,” hoping to serve others. Trying to visualize everything that’s happened since then feels like watching a fast-forwarded movie, where the number of people and the depth of relationships continually grow.
If there’s one constant since we began, it’s continuous change—fueled by constant learning and guided by the curiosity of explorers embarking on their first journey.
Perhaps that’s why it seems strange that ten years have passed—when you’re immersed in a journey like this, time loses its significance. We’re traveling with no fixed destination; what matters most is the act of traveling together.
This extraordinary journey has only been possible because of the remarkable people who have come together, united by strong principles and a shared purpose. I know this is a privilege, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this.
As we look ahead, I’m excited about the possibilities that await us. Here’s to continuing the journey, embracing the unknown, and discovering new horizons together.
“If there’s one constant since we began, it’s continuous change.”
- Guillermo Padilla, Head of Product
#5: Embrace the complexity of remote
As I reflect on my journey with Beefree, leading People & Culture at a global company with roots in Italy and a dynamic business in the U.S. has been an adventure shaped by innovation and transformation.
Beefree has been running as a remote-first company for 10 years. At first, I thought leading remotely meant simply managing from a distance—overcoming time zone challenges while balancing flexibility and risk. But I quickly realized it’s far more complex. Remote work isn’t just about geography; it blurs boundaries between ‘nowhere’ and ‘everywhere.’ Without the right mindset and cultural mapping artifacts, it can be isolating and overwhelming.
We are uncovering new ways of working to transform this challenge into an opportunity, fostering a culture of clear communication, empathy, and self-care. It’s a journey of continuous improvement—one I’m excited to keep learning from every day.
“It’s a journey of continuous improvement—one I’m excited to keep learning from every day.”
- Enrica Lipari, People & Culture Director
#6: 100 employees is complicated – and it is a treasure
Think of hosting a BBQ with 100 people. Or going on vacation with 100 people. Or how about throwing a birthday party for your little one with another 100 little ones? 100-people anything is complicated. How can it not be? I’m complicated. You’re complicated. How about 100 of us???
Companies are this somewhat random mix of complicated human beings that get together to build things for other complicated humans. How cool is that? And yes, messy too. But as long as there’s a positive, respectful, caring cultural foundation that makes it (mostly) work, relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy daily new discoveries. That’s what building a company is ultimately all about.
“Companies are this somewhat random mix of complicated human beings that get together to build things for other complicated humans. How cool is that?”
- Massimo Arrigoni, CEO
#7: It’s the People
With apologies to Mars Blackman and Michael Jordan... it's not the shoes; so it's gotta be the PEOPLE!
Like any sports organization, a business is made up of individuals working together for a common purpose (you know - a team). I've worked at many different companies over the years, and not a single one has come close to replicating the trust and passion found among my colleagues at Beefree... and I'm extremely grateful to be a part of this 10 year birthday celebration!
“I've worked at many different companies over the years, and not a single one has come close to replicating the trust and passion found among my colleagues at Beefree.”
- Cedric Adams, Business Development Manager
#8: Growing together on an exciting journey
Being part of this project from day one has been an extraordinary journey, one that has shaped both my career and my perspective on teamwork and innovation. I started as a full-stack developer, diving into the code, shaping the first iterations of what would become a powerful tool for creativity. Today, I have the immense honor of leading a development team that has grown beyond what I could have imagined. Watching this team evolve growing in size, talent, and ambition—has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
What truly stands out is the growth of the people. Over the years, I’ve witnessed colleagues take on new challenges, step into leadership roles, and push the boundaries of what we can achieve together. Every individual contribution has played a vital role in our collective success, and it's been a privilege to be part of such a collaborative and passionate group.
This journey, however, isn’t limited to our team alone. I’ve seen other departments flourish alongside us, each playing a crucial part in driving the project forward. Together, we’ve navigated challenges, celebrated victories, and pushed the envelope of what’s possible in our industry.
It's been an honor to stand on the front lines of this initiative, helping to create a platform that empowers people to express their creativity through successful newsletters.
As we look to the future, I’m filled with excitement for what’s to come. I couldn’t ask for a better team to embark on this journey. I’m excited to see what the future holds and to continue growing alongside the whole team.
“I've worked at many different companies over the years, and not a single one has come close to replicating the trust and passion found among my colleagues at Beefree.”
- Loris Cabrini, Head of Engineering
Happy birthday, Beefree!
While we’ve grown a lot, recently passing $15m in annual recurring revenue, a lot has also stayed the same.
We’re still anchored in the same values and operating principles that have allowed us to maintain a 97% employee retention rate–really high for the tech industry.
True today as it was on October 18, 2014, our core job-to-be-done is the same: providing users with an accessible design tool that frees them up to do their best work. Anyone can start designing with Beefree: no questions asked, no form to fill out, no email address to submit, nothing. No friction. All sorts of businesses use it to design all kinds of emails and landing pages.
To them, and to our past, present and future customers, thank you!
