The history of Discord turned online communication upside down - but it did not begin entirely from scratch. Jason Citron, already deeply immersed in the gaming industry, founded a mobile game studio called Hammer & Chisel. Their main project was Fates Forever, a multiplayer battle game inspired by League of Legends but designed for tablets.

And it was then that their team experienced firsthand the headache of trying to coordinate in battle using TeamSpeak or Skype. TeamSpeak felt outdated and overly complicated to set up, while Skype consumed too many resources, crashed frequently, and lagged - like trying to drive a high-performance sports car with pedals from a children’s bicycle.

That was when Jason and his co-founder, Stanislav Vishnevskiy, had their “Eureka!” moment. They realized that the problem was not unique to them - every gamer struggled with the same issue. The market was wide open: there was no modern communication tool that was simple, user-friendly, and comfortable. They seized that insight.

They pivoted sharply: they abandoned the idea of building the game and said, “Let us create the voice chat application that we ourselves would want to use.” They did not reinvent the wheel - they combined the simplicity of IRC-style text channels with modern technology that provided clear, low-latency audio.

Progress accelerated quickly. The first prototype of Discord - still under a different internal codename - was built in just a couple of weeks. The earliest testers were gamers from Brazil, who had been searching for an alternative to outdated communication applications. Their reaction made it clear: Discord had hit the mark.

Thus in 2015, out of frustration with existing tools and a desire to create something better, Discord was born. And from that moment - message by message, server by server - it began transforming into the “place” for communication that people did not even know they lacked.

Official Launch (2016)

The next step was marketing and official presentation. In the spring of 2016, Discord stepped out onto the public stage. After months of open beta testing and a rapidly expanding base of loyal fans, the team decided it was time to announce the product properly.

Discord did not simply press a “launch” button - they did it with impact. The team partnered with the well-known subreddit r/pcmasterrace, a hub for PC gaming enthusiasts. This was a brilliant move: exactly the audience they needed.

A chain reaction began. Gamers who had long been debating on forums suddenly discovered that creating their own server required only a few clicks. There was no need for the complex setup that TeamSpeak required. You simply sent your friends a link - and immediately had your own private space. It was unbelievably simple.

Users spread the word organically. Word-of-mouth became Discord’s most powerful form of advertising. The community finally received an application built precisely for its needs. Discord did not just find its niche - it created an entirely new world.

Important facts from this period:

• The official release took place in May 2016.
• In the first month alone, the platform gained more than one million users. 
• Growth was entirely organic - no huge advertising budgets, only user satisfaction and recommendations. 
• The early slogan became: “It is time to ditch Skype and TeamSpeak.”

Rapid Growth and Expansion Beyond Gaming (2017-2019)

This was when the real magic began. Discord spread its wings and soared far beyond the gaming environment. Initially, it was a communication hub for gamers - but soon its doors opened to everyone.

Gamers, of course, stayed; it remained their home. However, new audiences began to appear - artists, anime fans, student clubs, cryptocurrency communities. They all realized that Discord was not merely about “gameplayers,” but about any form of community.

The platform continuously gained features that were useful for a broader audience. High-quality voice channels, flexible text channels, roles, and permissions allowed users to build entire virtual worlds under one roof. Discord evolved from just a messenger into a complete digital clubhouse.

The company noticed this trend and adjusted its branding. Instead of the slogan “Voice and text chat for gamers,” Discord adopted the more universal phrase: “Your place to talk.” It became clear that Discord had planted not only a tree but an entire flourishing orchard.

Key milestones:

• By the end of 2017, Discord had 90 million users. By 2019, this number exceeded 250 million. 
• A partner program for large, high-quality communities grew rapidly.
• Major investments enabled powerful global infrastructure expansion.
• Discord became a cultural phenomenon - a place where memes were born, streamers coordinated their teams, and fans gathered around absolutely anything.

The Pandemic and the Surge in Global Popularity (2020)

Then came a global disruption - the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire world went into lockdown, and suddenly people urgently needed a “place to talk.” Practically overnight, Discord transformed from a convenient platform into a lifeline for millions.

Schools, universities, offices, hobby clubs - everything moved online. Teachers, students, colleagues, and friends were forced to search for a digital equivalent of their real-world social spaces. And it turned out that Discord had already built such an ecosystem long before the pandemic: servers, channels, voice rooms, screen sharing - a complete, ready-to-use environment.

User growth skyrocketed. For the first time, Discord entered truly global mainstream culture. It was no longer used solely by gamers; parents, teachers, coworkers, and students used it as well. The phrase “Let us meet on Discord” became commonplace.

The company responded quickly. Understanding the needs of the new audience, Discord temporarily removed the requirement to link a phone number when creating servers - significantly lowering the barrier to entry during a difficult period.

Key facts from 2020:

• Daily active users increased from 56 million in 2019 to more than 100 million in 2020. 
• Peak concurrent voice activity grew by 200 percent.
• Discord became a universal tool for virtual gatherings of all types - from online classes and remote work to informal friendly conversations and digital parties.

New Features and Monetisation (2021-Present)

After such explosive growth, the company needed to think seriously about sustainable monetisation. Maintaining an infrastructure of this scale was extremely costly. Discord entered a new era - stable growth combined with a long-term business model.

In 2021, news emerged that Microsoft was considering acquiring Discord for approximately ten billion United States dollars. However, the founders declined the offer, choosing independence and securing additional investments instead.

The team aimed to make the platform not just convenient, but absolutely indispensable. New features that had never been dreamed of before began to appear. A wave of new features followed:

• Stage Channels - virtual auditoriums for lectures, events, and question-and-answer sessions. 
• Activities - built-in mini-games and applications that users can launch directly inside voice channels. 
• Video Quotes - the ability to reply with short video messages. 
• Integration with PlayStation 5 - enabling console players to connect to Discord voice chat. 

Monetisation also evolved. The Nitro subscription received additional benefits, and Server Boosts were introduced, allowing communities to enhance their servers with upgraded audio quality, increased upload limits, additional emoji slots, and other improvements.

Important achievements:

• Enhanced safety features and automated moderation capable of detecting harmful content. 
• A creator programme that allows community leaders to monetise their work. 
• By 2023, monthly active users exceeded two hundred million, and Discord’s valuation reached fifteen billion United States dollars.

Discord firmly established itself as a major force in the world of digital communication, continually adapting to user needs.

How Discord Replaced Forums and Became the New Hangout Space for Generation Z

Traditional internet forums - with their endless threads, outdated interfaces, and rigid structure - now mostly exist as dusty archives of the early 2000s. Discord, however, became the “digital basement” where Generation Z feels at home. Why did this happen? Because Discord offered not merely a communication tool, but a living space where people could gather, converse, and share moments in real time, instead of leaving static text posts as on forums.

It all started simply with the communication format. On forums, you cast a message into the void and wait for a reply for hours, sometimes days. On Discord, you just hop into a voice channel, and suddenly you are with friends, laughing, watching memes together, or gaming. It’s the difference between an email and a live chat by the coffee maker. Immediacy and intimacy - that’s what killed the forums.

Flexibility was another major factor. On forums, registration, compliance with rules, and moderator approval were required. Discord, conversely, lets you simply share a link to gain entry. You can create your own server in five minutes and set up personalized channels - effectively building your own community space. Generation Z, raised on the principle of personalization, valued this highly.

Another factor was mobility. Discord was built with smartphones in mind. You can communicate on the way to school or work, during a break, or even while multitasking. Forums remained stuck in the era of desktop-based browsing, unable to adapt to new habits.

Furthermore, there is the culture of anonymity and self-expression. Forums frequently maintained strict formality. But on Discord, you have the freedom to be anyone - changing usernames, roles, and utilizing custom emojis. It moves beyond simple communication into a form of identity play, which is highly valued by Generation Z.

Forums did not entirely disappear - but Discord confidently took the cultural spotlight. It became a place where memes emerge, where trends are born, where micro-communities form around any interest. Discord is not merely another messenger; it has become a new digital neighbourhood.

How a Discord English Learning Community Grew to 80,000 Members With Zero Budget

This is a story not about gaming, but about knowledge. In 2020, a handful of enthusiasts - teachers and just plain English fans - launched the "English Universe" server. Initially, it was just a humble platform for practice, but in just two years, it grew into a community of 80,000 members. And all of it was achieved through sheer enthusiasm and clever strategies.

The secret lay in providing what all students lack: regular conversational practice without the fear of making mistakes. They didn't try to reinvent the wheel; they simply created a schedule of voice rooms with daily topics: "Coffee Chat on Mondays," "Debates on Wednesdays," "Movie Club on Fridays." Everything felt organic - just hop in and start speaking.

But the main attraction was the native speakers. The founders used Reddit and Tandem to find volunteers from the US and Britain who agreed to occasionally drop into the voice channels just to chat. This created incredible value - where else can you talk with a real native English speaker for free?

They promoted the server modestly, but effectively. They would drop a link in the comments section of popular English learning YouTube channels—precisely where their future members were spending their time. And people joined on their own accord because they saw that this wasn't dry theory, but live interaction.

They took it a step further. They implemented a system of "language raids": once a week, members would collectively visit other educational servers and invite people to their own - not through spam, but with a personal message: "Hey, we have Movie Club today, come join the discussion." This worked better than any advertisement.

They also developed bots with quizzes and gamification features. Participate in activities and you earn roles like "Grammar Guru" or "Conversation Master." This fueled excitement and engagement. People kept returning to "level up" their status.

Today, the server hosts several voice events daily, operates channels with job vacancies for translators, and even has a book club. It all grew out of the simple idea: "Hey, let's just chat in English." That’s how a basic human desire to communicate can evolve into a massive community. With zero budget, but with soul.

How the “Startup Squad” Server Gathered 30,000 Entrepreneurs

This is a story not about theory, but about pure practice. In 2021, two Silicon Valley founders - who had themselves gone through the journey from idea to exit - launched the "Startup Squad" server. In just over a year, they grew to 30,000 members, including investors and serial entrepreneurs. And all of this was achieved without paid advertising, relying solely on word-of-mouth and smart value creation.

The secret was "networking without the fake." They focused not on general chats, but on structured channels for specific niches: #growth-hacking, #pitch-feedback, #legal-advice. Everyone could find their place without noise. But the main attraction was the weekly pitch sessions with investors. Real venture capital funds agreed to participate because they saw a curated audience, not just a crowd of amateurs.

They promoted the server shrewdly: first, they invited 100 opinion leaders from their own contacts - serial founders who became the "core" of the community. Their names on the member list acted as a magnet. Next, they launched a referral invitation system: to gain access to the server, you had to briefly describe your project. This filtered out casual observers.

But the cherry on top was the #failures channel: there, startup founders anonymously shared their setbacks. This removed the toxicity of "successful success" and built an incredible level of trust. People were drawn specifically to this honesty.

Today, deals are closed, co-founders are found, and joint projects are even launched daily on the server. This is all because the creators didn't just provide "yet another chat room," but built an ecosystem where every member is an asset. That's how  - with zero budget, but with the right philosophy - you can even gather skeptical business people.

From Gaming to the Corporate World: How Slack and Microsoft Teams are Losing Ground to Discord in Hybrid Work

Just a few years ago, no one would have thought that a platform for gamers would seriously challenge seasoned corporate giants like Slack and Microsoft Teams. But the pandemic and the shift to hybrid work have put everything into perspective. It turns out that Discord is not just a toy, but a flexible tool that understands how people truly communicate.

What is the secret? Naturalness. Slack and Teams are like cubicles with "Meeting in Progress" signs. Everything is structured, channels are created according to strict protocol, and informal communication is often relegated to the background. Discord, on the other hand, is an open-space office where you can drop into a colleague’s voice channel at any moment, like visiting a neighbor for a cup of coffee. It’s not a "scheduled call," but spontaneous interaction - the very thing that is so often missing in remote work.

Consider the flexibility of settings. In Teams or Slack, creating a temporary channel for a brainstorming session requires navigating a quest for approvals. In Discord, it takes a couple of clicks, and you immediately have a channel with the necessary access permissions. When the project is finished, the channel can be archived or deleted. The same applies to roles: you can finely adjust who sees what and who has which privileges.

And then there are the integrations without the headache. Discord was initially created for streaming games and co-viewing content. This feature has translated perfectly to hybrid work: teams can jointly watch a demo of a new product, edit a design in Figma, or simply drop a GIF in the chat to lighten the mood. In corporate solutions, this is often either bureaucratic or simply unavailable.

We also cannot overlook the cost. Slack and Teams often involve expensive per-employee subscriptions. Discord remains free for basic functionality, with paid options offering slightly more community-focused features. For startups and small companies, this is a weighty argument.

Of course, Discord is not perfect for large corporations  - it lacks a built-in calendar, complex document management, or deep integration with Office 365. But it wins where the speed and humanity of communication are paramount. It doesn't impose rigid frameworks; it empowers teams to self-organize.

The result is that a platform born for gaming turned out to be closer to the spirit of modern hybrid work than products explicitly built for offices. That's because work is not only about tasks and deadlines, but also about the magic of those chance encounters by the water cooler. And Discord has successfully digitized that magic.

Why Discord Failed in Russia - and What VKontakte Has to Do with It

At first glance, everything seemed set for success: Russia has a large number of gamers, an active IT community, and one of the world's largest social media audiences. Yet, Discord remained a niche product for geeks in Russia, failing to achieve mainstream recognition. The reason for this is not one, but a whole host of factors, where VKontakte played a significant role.

Firstly, the language barrier. For a long time, Discord's interface was only available in English - which immediately alienated those who were not comfortable with the language. VKontakte, however, is entirely in Russian, supporting local memes and humor. Why struggle with foreign software when you have your own native platform readily available?

Secondly, the habitual ecosystem. VKontakte (VK) is not just a social network; it is an entire universe encompassing music, video, games, a messenger, and interest groups. Why download a separate app for voice chat when you can call directly through VK Calls - free of charge and without any hassle? Discord, on the other hand, required effort: learning about servers, bots, and configuration settings.

Thirdly, the gaming specificity. Yes, gamers appreciated Discord, but the gaming community in Russia is not as massive as it is in the West. For non-gamers, the need for a separate voice chat was not obvious. Telegram for messaging, VK for everything else - that was the entire digital diet.

And, of course, marketing. Discord did not invest in promotion in Russia: no advertising with bloggers, no localized campaigns, and no partnerships with local gaming studios. VKontakte, by contrast, always worked on brand recognition—its logo was seen by virtually everyone.

Finally, the alternatives. While Discord was slow to act, Telegram and VK were already fully copying its features: voice chats, groups, and bots. Why switch to a new platform if your familiar tools are already evolving?

The result is that Discord in Russia remained a tool for those in the know  - streamers, esports players, and IT specialists. The mainstream user never saw its value, as VKontakte and Telegram already provided everything necessary. Sometimes, to conquer a market, it’s not enough to be technologically advanced - you need to speak the audience's language. Both literally and figuratively.

Discord vs. Telegram: The Battle for the Audience That Will Determine the Future of Community

These are two giants that seem to exist in parallel universes. But, in reality, they are increasingly clashing for the right to be the main platform for online communities. And each has its strengths and its Achilles' heel.

Telegram is the high-speed express. Instant message delivery, lightweight chats, channels with millions of subscribers, and a culture of "read - reply  - forward." It is ideal for news, blogs, and rapid information exchange. But when it comes to community... it gets more complicated. Groups with thousands of members turn into chaos where it is impossible to follow conversations. Voice chats? They exist, but they are more suited for broadcasts than for continuous interaction. Telegram is a rally square where everyone is shouting their own message.

Discord is a cozy club with interest-specific rooms. Here, speed is not the priority; creating an environment is. A server features channels for every topic, voice rooms where you can hang out for hours, and bots for moderation and entertainment. This is ideal for gamers, creative groups, and educational projects - where the goal is not just to read a message, but to immerse oneself in the atmosphere. But this comes at the cost of complexity: a beginner needs time to understand roles, permissions, and settings.

The audience is where things get most interesting. Telegram has captured the 25+ demographic, often professionals, journalists, and IT specialists. Discord, on the other hand, is home to Generation Z, gamers, streamers, and fans of anime and memes. They value the environment over speed.

Monetization is another point of divergence. Telegram relies on channel advertising and paid subscriptions for creators. Discord focuses on server boosts and Nitro subscriptions, which enhance user functionality.

Who will win? For now, they tend to complement each other. Telegram is for news and quick communication, while Discord is for the internal life of a community. But the future belongs to the one who can become the truly universal platform - convenient for the blogger, the fan, and the business alike. And that means the battle is only just beginning.

The Most Popular Channels on Discord

Here is a list of some of the most popular and well-known Discord servers by category, based on open data and public rankings. Please note that exact statistics are often not publicly disclosed, but these servers consistently lead in terms of membership and activity:

1. Gaming Servers

• Minecraft Official - The official server for the game Minecraft with millions of members. It covers everything from announcements to gameplay discussion.
• Fortnite - A massive community for Fortnite fans, featuring news, tournaments, and squad finding.
• VALORANT - The official server for discussing tactics, patches, and organizing matches.
• Among Us - While its peak popularity has passed, the server remains active thanks to memes and events.

2. Educational and Creative

• Study Together - A server for collaborative studying and motivation (over 800k members). It includes virtual libraries and Pomodoro timers.
• Art Haven - An artists’ community offering critique, collaborations, and daily challenges.
• Programming Hub - Provides coding help and discussion on languages and projects.

3. Social and Entertainment

• Midjourney - The server for generating images via AI. Popular due to the convenience of accessing the bot directly within Discord.
• Anime Soul - A huge community for anime fans with discussions, memes, and events.
• Genshin Impact Official - Millions of players communicate here about characters, events, and updates.

4. Technology and Crypto

• r/Technology - A server linked to the eponymous subreddit. It features IT news and trend discussions.
• Cryptohub - Discussion of cryptocurrencies, trading, and blockchain (warning: high volatility and risks, including Sharia compliance!).

5. Official Brand Servers

• YouTube - YouTube's Discord community for discussing the platform, partner programs, and algorithms.
• Starbucks - Unexpected, right? The company uses this space for announcements and interacting with brand enthusiasts.

Why Are These Servers Popular?

• Official Status - Gaming giants like Minecraft or Fortnite promote their servers directly through their games.
• Utilitarian Value - Like Midjourney: the bot only operates within Discord, making the server indispensable.
• Community-Centricity — For example, Study Together creates a supportive atmosphere for learners.
• Large-Scale Events — Tournaments with prizes and AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions with celebrities.

Where Can You Find Similar Servers?

• Discord Discovery - The built-in directory within the application (available after server verification).
• Aggregator Websites - Such as Discord.me or Disboard.org.
• Social Media Recommendations - Popular servers are often mentioned on Twitter, Reddit, or YouTube.

If you want to find something tailored to your interests, just Google "best Discord servers for [your topic]." But remember: most popular ≠ highest quality. Sometimes, smaller communities are cozier.

Why Do People Use Discord?

Users choose Discord for simple, practical reasons that have grown into an entire ecosystem. Here are the key factors:

Free and Effortless

There is no need to rent a server, as with TeamSpeak. You create your channel in a couple of clicks, share the link with friends - and everything is ready. This lowers the barrier to entry to zero.

Quality and Stability

Low voice latency and clear audio are fundamental features. In fast-paced games, every millisecond counts. Discord was initially optimized for this, unlike Skype, which was often resource-intensive and laggy.

Everything in One Place

Voice chat, text channels for messaging, file sharing, and streaming gameplay to friends - it’s all right here. There is no need to switch between different applications.

Flexibility and Control

The server creator can customize it to their needs: create separate rooms (channels) for different games, projects, or topics, issue roles to members, and configure access permissions. It's like having your own private club with rules.

Integration with Games and Platforms

Discord shows what you are playing in your status and supports an overlay (an interface that displays over the game) so you can see the chat without minimizing. Support for gaming consoles, like PlayStation, has made it even more universal.

Culture and Community

For many, it has long been more than just a tool; it's a digital home. People hang out with friends here not just for gaming, but simply to chat, watch movies together via streams, or sit in a general voice channel while working on their own things.

In short, Discord solved all the pain points of the gamers of its time by offering a simple, high-quality, and free product that also fostered a sense of community belonging. It became the de facto standard simply because it did it better than everyone else.

4 Core Business Lessons from the Discord Story

1. Solve a High-Friction, Everyday Problem (Identify the True Pain Point)

Discord was born out of intense user frustration with obsolete, high-friction tools such as TeamSpeak and Skype for real-time coordination. They weren't solving a trivial issue, but they were solving a major functional roadblock that affected their target audience daily.

• Takeaway: Don't build a new feature for an existing tool. Identify a specific, recurring, and painful user experience in your target market and build a simpler, faster, 10x better solution for that exact task. This pain relief drives immediate adoption.

2. Prioritize Organic Growth Through Superior UX (Let Users Be Your Marketers) 

Discord achieved viral, explosive growth without relying on large ad budgets. This was possible because the product experience was inherently shareable, simple, and satisfying. The core value was accessible with a few clicks - "send a link".

• Takeaway: Invest ruthlessly in user experience (UX) and lowering the barrier to entry. If your product is easier to use and delivers instant value, users become your most effective marketers, enabling strong, organic, word-of-mouth growth, which is the most sustainable kind.

3. Build a Scalable Ecosystem, Not a Single Feature (Go from Niche to Universal) 

While Discord started with gamers, its underlying structure - flexible channels, robust voice, roles, and permissions - was adaptable to every kind of community (artists, students, startups). They recognized and capitalized on this universal applicability by rebranding it as "Your place to talk".

• Takeaway: Design your platform with a flexible core architecture that can easily serve multiple adjacent markets. Once you dominate a specific niche, pivot your messaging to highlight the universal utility of your product, allowing you to capture broader audiences.

4. Create a "Digital Home" and Foster Deep Community Life 

Discord succeeded by being more than a messenger; it became a place where people "live" online, share memes, hang out in voice channels, and engage in "identity play". This created high stickiness and retention.

• Takeaway: Your product should foster high engagement and a sense of belonging, moving beyond mere transaction. Implement features that support community self-organization, personalization, and sustained, informal interaction to make the platform feel like a second home.

6 Business Takeaways for Muslim Entrepreneurs from the Discord Story

1. Start With Maslahah: Solve a Genuine, Shared Pain Point

Discord was born when its founders personally felt the frustration of poor communication tools. They did not chase hype - they solved a real, common, urgent problem.

• Lesson: In Islamic entrepreneurship, value creation (maslahah - public interest/benefit) comes before profit. Ask yourself:
• What pain do I personally experience?
• What pain does my community experience?
• Is the problem serious enough that people would gladly switch to my solution?

Building a business around real pain aligns with ihsan (excellence) and ensures your product is needed, not just “nice to have.” Discord succeeded not because it was innovative, but because it was useful.

2. Pivot With Tawakkul: Be Willing to Change Direction When Allah Opens a Better Path

Discord started as a game studio. But when the founders realized their game was not the true opportunity, they chose courage over ego and pivoted completely.

• Lesson: Pivoting is not a loss when there is an opportunity; it is tawakkul (trust in Allah) combined with strategic clarity. Sometimes the opportunity Allah sends is not the one you planned for:
• The market signals a different direction.
• Customers demand something new.
• Your original idea is not viable.

A Muslim entrepreneur must be adaptable while maintaining trust, humility, and gratitude. Pivoting saved the company. Stubbornness would have killed it.

3. Build a Community, Not Just a Product

Discord grew from zero to hundreds of millions primarily through community-driven adoption, not through marketing budgets.

• Lesson: Community (jama‘ah) is a core Islamic principle, and modern business thrives exactly the same way. Instead of chasing customers, build a place where:
• people belong,
• people feel valued,
• people invite others naturally.

This is why Discord grew without advertising-belonging but through trust and loyalty. For Muslim entrepreneurs, a strong community is not a “marketing technique” - it is a strategic advantage built on authentic human connection.

4. Serve a Niche First - Then Expand With Hikmah (Wisdom)

Discord did not target everyone from day one. It targeted gamers, a narrowly defined, deeply engaged group. Only after dominating that vertical did Discord expand to other groups such as students, artists, educators, professionals, global mainstream users.

• Lesson: Hikmah (wisdom) in entrepreneurship means:
• start focused,
• establish credibility,
• create excellence within one community,
• then expand when the time is right.

Trying to appeal to everyone leads to weak products and wasted money. Dominate one niche with excellence - ihsan  -before broadening.

5. Grow Organically: Let Trust Be Your Marketing

Discord became global without paid campaigns. Word-of-mouth succeeded because the product delivered real value.

• Lesson: In Islam, trust (amanah) is a business asset more powerful than advertising. If you:
• deliver consistent quality,
• treat users fairly,
• avoid deception and overpromising,
• support your community sincerely,
• people will advocate for your brand.

Organic growth aligned with sincerity (ikhlas) is slower - but vastly more durable. It creates a brand built on trust, not hype.



6. Sustainability Over Acquisition: Values Should Guide Growth

Discord refused a USD 10 billion acquisition by Microsoft. The founders chose independence, long-term vision, staying true to users.

• Lesson: Islam teaches that rizq (provision) is from Allah, and not every offer is a blessing. Sometimes a tempting exit destroys the mission, a big deal compromises values, a quick gain sacrifices long-term benefit (barakah).

A Muslim entrepreneur builds with niyah (intention). Do not sell your mission simply because the money looks good. Sustainable growth aligned with principles is more valuable than any short-term profit.

Source of the original story: https://companystories.ru/

Adapted for a Muslim audience by Zakat App.