“Sunguk Moon’s Anonymous Canvas: Blind’s Role in Tech’s Layoff Landscape”

In the latter part of 2022, as the tech industry grappled with widespread layoffs, an online forum named Blind emerged as a prominent channel for communication among verified but anonymous professionals. During this period of upheaval, over 95% of Twitter employees found themselves among the 8 million users on Blind, and this user base expanded by an additional 2 million in the preceding year alone. The platform, designed for professionals, particularly those in the tech sector, has evolved into a crucial space for discussions encompassing a spectrum of topics, including visa matters, mental health, and debates on unethical practices. Its significance is particularly pronounced as it provides a platform for industry whistleblowers.

Blind’s operational model involves monetizing through the synthesis of user sentiment and proposing changes to companies facing criticism. According to COO Young Yuk, the platform’s emphasis on anonymity is pivotal, creating a space where discussions take place that might not find expression elsewhere.

Sunguk Moon, the CEO of Blind, conceived the idea for the platform during his tenure at the Korean search giant Naver in the late 2000s. Naver itself operated an anonymous discussion forum for its employees, providing the inspiration for the creation of a broader platform like Blind.

Founded in 2013 by Sunguk Moon and Kyum Kim, Blind initially debuted in South Korea in 2014 before expanding its reach to the United States in 2015. The success of Blind is rooted in its ability to facilitate open and honest discussions among professionals, addressing pertinent issues within the tech community while maintaining the veil of anonymity that users value.