QUICK INFO BOX

Introduction

In the era of remote and hybrid work, one platform has emerged as the digital canvas where ideas come to life: Miro. With over 70 million users across 220,000 organizations—including 99% of the Fortune 100—Miro has transformed how teams brainstorm, plan, and collaborate visually.

Miro is a visual collaboration platform that enables distributed teams to work together effectively through an infinite digital whiteboard. From design sprints and agile workflows to strategic planning and workshops, Miro provides a flexible workspace where teams can collaborate in real-time or asynchronously, regardless of location.

Founded in 2011 by Russian entrepreneurs Andrey Khusid and Oleg Shardin, Miro has grown from a small startup called RealtimeBoard to a collaboration giant valued at $20 billion as of February 2026. With $650 million in annual recurring revenue and backing from top-tier investors including Accel and Iconiq Capital, Miro is redefining how the world’s leading companies innovate and collaborate.

This article explores Miro’s remarkable journey from a bootstrapped startup in Perm, Russia, to a global collaboration powerhouse serving millions of users worldwide.

Founding Story & Background

The Genesis in Perm, Russia

The Miro story begins in 2011 in Perm, Russia, an industrial city in the Ural Mountains far from Silicon Valley’s tech ecosystem. Andrey Khusid and Oleg Shardin, two experienced software developers, observed a critical problem: distributed teams struggled to collaborate effectively on visual work.

Having worked on various web development projects, they noticed that existing tools like Skype and email were inadequate for real-time visual collaboration. Teams needed a digital space where they could brainstorm, sketch ideas, and iterate together—just like they would on a physical whiteboard.

From RealtimeBoard to Miro

Initially launched as RealtimeBoard in 2011, the platform was born out of necessity. Khusid and Shardin were working with a client in Australia while based in Russia, struggling to communicate design concepts across time zones. They built the first version of their digital whiteboard to solve their own problem.

For the first few years, RealtimeBoard operated as a bootstrapped company with minimal resources. The founders:

• Self-funded the initial development
• Worked remotely before remote work was mainstream
• Focused on product-market fit by iterating based on early user feedback
• Built a freemium model to accelerate user adoption

Pivotal Moment: The Y Combinator Journey

In 2016, RealtimeBoard was accepted into Y Combinator’s prestigious accelerator program (Winter 2016 batch). This marked a turning point for the company:

• Validation from Silicon Valley’s top startup accelerator
• Mentorship from successful founders and investors
• Network access to potential customers and investors
• Product refinement based on intensive feedback

During YC, the team realized their product wasn’t just for designers and developers—it had universal appeal across all teams and industries.

Early Challenges

The founding team faced significant hurdles:

1. Geographic Barriers: Operating from Russia made fundraising and customer acquisition in Western markets challenging
2. Market Education: In 2011, visual collaboration tools were nascent; they had to educate the market
3. Competition from Giants: Companies like Microsoft and Google had resources to build similar tools
4. Scaling Infrastructure: Building real-time collaboration technology that could handle thousands of concurrent users was technically complex
5. Remote Team Management: Coordinating a distributed team before remote work tools matured

The Rebranding to Miro (2019)

In January 2019, RealtimeBoard rebranded to Miro, a name inspired by the Spanish artist Joan Miró, known for his vibrant, imaginative works. The rebranding reflected the company’s evolution:

• Broader vision beyond just “real-time boards”
• International appeal with an easier-to-pronounce name
• Product expansion into enterprise collaboration
• Global ambitions as they scaled worldwide

Founders & Key Team

Leadership Philosophy:

Andrey Khusid and Oleg Shardin have maintained a product-first, user-centric approach throughout Miro’s growth. They emphasize:

• Remote-first culture: Practicing what they preach with a distributed global team
• Customer feedback loops: Continuously iterating based on user input
• Inclusive collaboration: Building tools that work for diverse teams and use cases
• Sustainable growth: Focusing on long-term value over short-term metrics

Funding & Investors

Seed Funding (2016)

• Amount: $2.3 Million
• Lead Investors: Accel, Angels from Y Combinator network
• Purpose: Product development, market validation, initial team expansion

Series A (2018)

• Amount: $25 Million
• Lead Investor: Accel
• Co-investors: Angels and early backers
• Purpose: Scaling sales and marketing, expanding product capabilities
• Milestone: Crossed 1 million users

Series B (2020)

• Amount: $50 Million
• Lead Investor: Iconiq Capital
• Co-investors: Accel, Salesforce Ventures
• Purpose: Remote work surge during COVID-19, product expansion, enterprise features
• Valuation: $1 Billion+ (Unicorn status achieved)

Series C (2021)

• Amount: $400 Million
• Lead Investors: Iconiq Capital, Accel, Insight Partners
• Co-investors: Salesforce Ventures, BOND, Atlassian, Zoom
• Valuation: $17.5 Billion
• Purpose: Global expansion, AI and innovation investments, enterprise growth
• Milestone: 35 million users, 300,000+ customer organizations

Total Funding Overview

• Total Raised: $476 Million across all rounds
• Current Valuation: $17.5 Billion (as of Series C, 2021)
• Notable Strategic Investors: Salesforce, Atlassian, Zoom, Okta

The Series C round in 2021 was one of the largest in collaboration software history, reflecting investor confidence in Miro’s position as the category leader in visual collaboration.

Product & Technology Journey

A. Flagship Products & Services

1. Miro Board (Core Platform)

The infinite canvas where all collaboration happens:

• Real-time Collaboration: Multiple users can work simultaneously with live cursors and updates
• Infinite Canvas: Unlimited space for ideas, diagrams, and content
• Rich Media Support: Embed images, videos, documents, PDFs, and web links
• Smart Frameworks: Pre-built templates for agile, design thinking, strategy, and more
• Comments & Feedback: Contextual discussions directly on board objects
• Version History: Track changes and revert to previous versions

Target Audience: Product managers, designers, engineers, marketers, consultants, educators, and remote teams across all industries.

2. Miro Assist (AI-Powered Features)

Launched in 2023, Miro Assist brings AI capabilities to visual collaboration:

• Intelligent Clustering: Automatically group related sticky notes and ideas
• Content Generation: AI-powered brainstorming and idea expansion
• Smart Summaries: Extract key insights from brainstorming sessions
• Template Suggestions: Recommend frameworks based on user goals
• Automated Diagramming: Convert text descriptions into visual diagrams

3. Templates & Frameworks

Over 2,500+ pre-built templates for:

• Agile & Scrum: Sprint planning, retrospectives, daily standups
• Design Thinking: Empathy maps, journey maps, user personas
• Strategy: SWOT analysis, OKRs, roadmaps
• Workshops: Icebreakers, team building, brainstorming
• Diagramming: Flowcharts, mind maps, wireframes

4. Integrations Ecosystem

Miro integrates with 100+ tools including:

• Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom
• Project Management: Jira, Asana, Monday.com
• Design Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD
• Documentation: Notion, Confluence, Google Workspace
• Development: GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps

5. Enterprise Solutions

• Enterprise Plan: Advanced security, compliance, and governance features
• Single Sign-On (SSO): Integration with corporate identity providers
• Advanced Admin Controls: User management, board permissions, audit logs
• Dedicated Support: Priority customer success and technical support
• Data Residency: Regional data hosting for compliance requirements

B. Technology & Innovations

Real-Time Collaboration Engine

Miro’s core technological innovation is its real-time collaboration infrastructure:

• Operational Transformation (OT): Conflict resolution for simultaneous edits
• WebSocket Technology: Low-latency real-time updates
• Optimistic UI: Instant feedback before server confirmation
• Scalable Architecture: Handles boards with thousands of objects and hundreds of concurrent users

AI and Machine Learning

Miro has invested heavily in AI capabilities:

• Natural Language Processing: Understanding user intent for smart suggestions
• Computer Vision: Analyzing board content for insights and patterns
• Recommendation Systems: Suggesting templates and workflows
• Predictive Features: Anticipating user needs based on behavior

Security & Compliance

Enterprise-grade security features:

• SOC 2 Type II Certification
• GDPR Compliance
• ISO 27001 Certification
• End-to-End Encryption for sensitive content
• Data Residency Options in US, EU, and other regions

Performance Optimization

• Content Delivery Network (CDN): Fast loading worldwide
• Intelligent Caching: Reduced load times for large boards
• Lazy Loading: Load content as users navigate
• Mobile Optimization: Native iOS and Android apps

C. Market Expansion & Adoption

Global Presence

Miro operates in over 200 countries with offices in:

• Americas: San Francisco (HQ), Los Angeles, Austin, New York
• Europe: Amsterdam (Legal HQ), Berlin, London, Paris
• Asia-Pacific: Tokyo, Sydney (growing presence)

Client Base Milestones

• 2018: 1 million users
• 2020: 10 million users (COVID-19 surge)
• 2021: 35 million users
• 2024: 60+ million users
• Enterprise Customers: 99% of Fortune 100 companies

Industry Adoption

Miro is used across diverse industries:

• Technology: Product development, engineering workflows
• Consulting: Client workshops, strategy sessions
• Education: Remote teaching, collaborative learning
• Financial Services: Process mapping, compliance workflows
• Healthcare: Patient journey mapping, clinical protocols
• Manufacturing: Lean processes, supply chain visualization
• Marketing & Creative: Campaign planning, content calendars

Notable Client Success Stories

• Cisco: Uses Miro for global design sprints
• Deloitte: Enables virtual consulting workshops
• Upwork: Product roadmap planning and collaboration
• Qlik: Distributed design and UX research
• Autodesk: Cross-functional team collaboration

Company Timeline Chart

📅 COMPANY MILESTONES

2011 ── Founded as RealtimeBoard in Perm, Russia by Andrey Khusid and Oleg Shardin
│
2016 ── Accepted into Y Combinator (W16 batch) | $2.3M Seed Funding from Accel
│
2018 ── Series A: $25M led by Accel | Reached 1 million users
│
2019 ── Rebranded from RealtimeBoard to Miro | Expanded enterprise features
│
2020 ── Series B: $50M led by Iconiq Capital | Achieved Unicorn status ($1B+ valuation) | COVID-19 remote work surge: 10M users
│
2021 ── Series C: $400M at $17.5B valuation | 35 million users | 300,000+ organizations
│
2023 ── Launched Miro Assist (AI features) | Innovation platform expansion
│
2024 ── 60+ million users | $400M+ ARR | 99% of Fortune 100 as customers | 1,800+ employees

Key Metrics & KPIs

Competitor Comparison

📊 Miro vs Competitors

Winner: Miro

Miro leads in visual collaboration with the largest user base, deepest integration ecosystem, and strongest enterprise penetration. While competitors like Mural offer similar capabilities, Miro’s network effects, template library, and platform partnerships give it a significant advantage. FigJam excels in design workflows but lacks Miro’s breadth across use cases. Microsoft Whiteboard benefits from Office 365 bundling but lacks advanced features and flexibility.

Miro’s key competitive advantages:

1. Platform ecosystem: 100+ integrations vs competitors’ 50+
2. Template depth: 2,500+ templates covering more use cases
3. Enterprise adoption: 99% Fortune 100 penetration
4. AI innovation: First-mover in AI-powered visual collaboration
5. Network effects: Larger user base drives sharing and collaboration
6. Use case breadth: Serves more teams (not just designers)

Business Model & Revenue Streams

Freemium Model

Miro operates a freemium business model with tiered pricing:

Free Plan

• Up to 3 editable boards
• Unlimited team members
• Pre-made templates
• Core collaboration features
• Purpose: User acquisition, viral growth, individual users

Starter Plan ($8/member/month)

• Unlimited editable boards
• Unlimited viewers
• Custom templates
• Advanced integrations
• Target: Small teams, startups

Business Plan ($16/member/month)

• Everything in Starter
• Guest editor access
• Private boards with team
• Project folders
• Board backup
• Target: Growing teams, departments

Enterprise Plan (Custom pricing)

• Everything in Business
• SSO and advanced security
• Enterprise-grade admin controls
• Data governance and compliance
• Dedicated customer success manager
• Service Level Agreement (SLA)
• Data residency options
• Target: Fortune 500, large enterprises

Revenue Streams

1. Subscription Revenue (~95% of revenue)

   • Individual and team subscriptions
   • Enterprise contracts (multi-year deals)
   • Seat-based pricing model

2. Professional Services (~5%)

   • Enterprise onboarding and training
   • Custom template development
   • Consulting for collaboration transformation

3. Marketplace (Emerging)

   • Premium templates from partners
   • Third-party integrations and apps

Growth Drivers

• Product-Led Growth (PLG): Free plan drives viral adoption
• Bottom-Up Enterprise: Individual teams adopt, then expand company-wide
• Network Effects: Boards shared across organizations drive new user acquisition
• Land and Expand: Start with small teams, expand to enterprise deals
• Strategic Partnerships: Integrations with Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams drive discovery

Achievements & Awards

Industry Recognition

• Forbes Cloud 100 (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023): Ranked among top cloud companies
• Gartner Magic Quadrant: Leader in Content Collaboration Tools
• G2 Best Software Awards: Multiple category wins including Best Collaboration Software
• Fast Company Most Innovative Companies (2021): Recognized for innovation in collaboration
• LinkedIn Top Startups (2020, 2021): One of the best places to work
• Built In Best Places to Work (2022, 2023): Recognized for remote-first culture

Product Awards

• Product Hunt Golden Kitty Award (2019): Productivity Tool of the Year
• Webby Awards: Collaboration Platform Excellence
• Red Dot Design Award: UX and interface design
• Apple App Store Editor’s Choice: Featured app multiple times

Partnerships & Collaborations

• Microsoft: Strategic partnership, Teams integration, co-selling
• Salesforce: Investment and integration with Salesforce ecosystem
• Atlassian: Investment and deep Jira/Confluence integration
• Zoom: Investment and native Zoom Apps integration
• Okta: Identity and access management partnership
• Amazon Web Services (AWS): Infrastructure and marketplace partnership

Market Recognition

• Unicorn Status (2020): Achieved $1B+ valuation
• Decacorn (2021): Reached $17.5B valuation—one of the fastest to reach this milestone
• Fortune 100 Penetration: 99% adoption rate among largest companies
• Category Leader: Defined and leads the visual collaboration category

Valuation & Financial Overview

💰 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

Revenue Sources (2024 Estimates)

• SMB & Mid-Market Subscriptions: $120 Million (~30%)
• Enterprise Solutions: $240 Million (~60%)
• Professional Services & Support: $20 Million (~5%)
• Strategic Partnerships & Other: $20 Million (~5%)

Growth Trajectory

• 2019: ~$20 Million ARR
• 2020: ~$50 Million ARR (150% growth during COVID-19)
• 2021: $200+ Million ARR (300% growth)
• 2022: $280+ Million ARR (40% growth)
• 2023: $320+ Million ARR (15% growth—normalization post-pandemic)
• 2024: $400+ Million ARR (25% growth—AI-driven revival)

Unit Economics

• Average Contract Value (ACV):

  • SMB: $1,000-$5,000
  • Mid-Market: $25,000-$100,000
  • Enterprise: $250,000-$5,000,000+
• 
  

  Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): Low due to product-led growth model

  
  
• 
  

  CAC Payback Period: 12-18 months

  
  
• 
  

  Net Dollar Retention (NDR): 130%+ (enterprise), 115%+ (overall)

  
  
• 
  

  Gross Margin: ~80-85% (typical SaaS margins)

  
  

Top Investors / Backers

1. Accel – Lead investor since Seed, largest shareholder
2. Iconiq Capital – Led Series B and C
3. Insight Partners – Growth equity investor
4. Salesforce Ventures – Strategic investor
5. BOND – Growth-stage investor
6. Atlassian – Strategic investor and partner
7. Zoom – Strategic investor and integration partner

Market Strategy & Expansion

Product-Led Growth Strategy

Miro’s growth is driven by a bottoms-up, viral adoption model:

1. Freemium Acquisition: Free tier attracts individual users and small teams
2. Viral Sharing: Users invite colleagues and clients to boards
3. Usage Expansion: Teams hit board limits and upgrade
4. Cross-Company Spread: Boards shared with clients/partners create new users
5. Enterprise Sales: Usage data identifies high-potential accounts for enterprise sales

Target Industries & Verticals

Primary Focus:

• Technology companies (software development, product management)
• Consulting firms (client workshops, strategic planning)
• Design agencies (creative collaboration)
• Financial services (process mapping, compliance)

Emerging Segments:

• Education (remote teaching, collaborative learning)
• Healthcare (patient journey mapping, clinical workflows)
• Manufacturing (lean processes, supply chain)
• Government (policy planning, citizen services)

Geographic Expansion

Current Strong Markets:

• North America (60% of revenue)
• Europe (25% of revenue)
• Asia-Pacific (10% of revenue)
• Rest of World (5%)

Expansion Strategy:

• Localization: Platform available in 30+ languages
• Regional Data Centers: EU, US, Asia for data residency
• Local Teams: Sales, support, and customer success in key markets
• Partner Networks: Channel partnerships in emerging markets

Partnership & Ecosystem Strategy

Miro’s ecosystem strategy focuses on integration depth:

• Communication Platforms: Deep integrations with Slack, Teams, Zoom
• Project Management: Native experiences in Jira, Asana, Monday
• Design Tools: Two-way sync with Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD
• Documentation: Embed Miro boards in Notion, Confluence, Google Docs
• Developer Platform: Open API for custom integrations

Marketing & Sales Strategy

Product Marketing:

• Use Case Education: Content highlighting specific workflows (design sprints, retrospectives)
• Template Library: SEO-optimized templates drive organic discovery
• Community Building: Miroverse community for sharing templates and best practices

Sales Motion:

• Self-Service: PLG for SMB and individual users
• Inside Sales: For mid-market accounts ($10K-$100K ACV)
• Enterprise Field Sales: For Fortune 500 and large enterprises
• Channel Partners: Consulting firms, system integrators for enterprise deals

Customer Success:

• Community Support: Free tier users supported via community
• Email & Chat Support: Paid tiers get responsive support
• Dedicated CSMs: Enterprise accounts get dedicated success managers
• Training & Certification: Miro Academy for user education

Future Growth Plans (2025-2027)

1. AI-First Platform: Make Miro Assist central to the experience
2. Vertical Solutions: Industry-specific templates and workflows
3. Mobile-First Experience: Enhanced iOS/Android apps for field work
4. Async Collaboration: Better support for non-real-time collaboration
5. Workflow Automation: Connect Miro to work execution tools
6. Data & Analytics: Insights from collaboration patterns
7. Innovation Platform: Enable developers to build on Miro

Physical & Digital Presence

Office Culture

Miro operates as a remote-first company, practicing what it preaches:

• Distributed Workforce: Employees across 20+ countries
• Hub Offices: Optional co-working spaces, not required
• Async Collaboration: Heavy use of Miro, Slack, and async communication
• Global Hiring: Talent acquisition without geographic constraints
• Remote Onboarding: Comprehensive digital onboarding process

Challenges & Controversies

Competitive Pressure

Challenge: Intense competition from well-funded rivals

• Microsoft: Whiteboard bundled free with Office 365 threatens SMB market
• Figma/FigJam: Strong position in design community
• Mural: Direct competitor in enterprise visual collaboration
• Google Jamboard: Free alternative for Google Workspace users

Response: Miro focuses on differentiation through deeper integrations, richer template library, and AI innovation.

Market Saturation Concerns

Challenge: Rapid growth during COVID-19, concerns about post-pandemic slowdown

• 2020-2021: Explosive growth as companies went remote
• 2022-2023: Growth normalization as return-to-office trends emerged
• Retention Risks: Free and paid users reducing usage in hybrid environments

Response: Evolved value proposition beyond “remote work” to “innovation and collaboration platform” for all work modes. Launched AI features to drive new use cases.

Enterprise Sales Complexity

Challenge: Long sales cycles and complex procurement processes

• Enterprise deals can take 6-12 months to close
• Security, compliance, and legal reviews delay adoption
• Competing priorities within large organizations

Response: Invested in dedicated enterprise sales teams, customer success, and compliance certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001).

International Expansion Hurdles

Challenge: Scaling globally with diverse regulatory requirements

• Data Residency: EU, US, and other regions require local data storage
• Localization: Platform must support 30+ languages
• Cultural Differences: Collaboration norms vary by country
• Geopolitical Risks: Founders’ Russian heritage raised questions (unfounded, but addressed)

Response: Established regional data centers, hired local teams, and maintained transparent governance.

Product Complexity

Challenge: Feature bloat as platform expands

• New users can feel overwhelmed by features
• Balancing simplicity with power-user needs
• Onboarding challenges for non-technical users

Response: Improved onboarding flows, AI-powered recommendations, and simplified starting templates.

No Major Controversies

Unlike some tech unicorns, Miro has avoided significant controversies related to:

• Data privacy breaches
• Unethical practices
• Founder misconduct
• Toxic workplace culture

The company has maintained a positive reputation focused on product excellence and customer success.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Education & Accessibility

Miro for Education:

• Free for Educators: Verified teachers get free access
• Student Programs: Free accounts for students
• Curriculum Resources: Teaching materials for remote learning
• Accessibility Features: Screen reader support, keyboard navigation, high-contrast modes

Impact: Enabled millions of students and teachers to collaborate remotely during pandemic and beyond.

Non-Profit & Social Good

Miro for Non-Profits:

• Discounted or free licenses for qualifying non-profits
• Pro bono consulting for social impact organizations
• Template library for non-profit use cases (fundraising, volunteer coordination)

Notable Partnerships:

• Collaborated with humanitarian organizations for crisis response coordination
• Supported educational initiatives in underserved communities

Diversity & Inclusion

Company Initiatives:

• Remote-First Hiring: Expands talent pool beyond traditional tech hubs
• Diverse Leadership: Focus on building diverse management team
• Inclusive Product Design: Ensuring platform works for diverse users globally
• Employee Resource Groups: Support for underrepresented groups

Environmental Sustainability

Carbon Footprint Reduction:

• Cloud Infrastructure: Runs on AWS, which is committed to renewable energy
• Remote-First Model: Reduces commuting and office emissions
• Digital-First Operations: Minimizes paper and physical resource usage

Commitments:

• Carbon neutrality goals for company operations
• Paperless meetings and collaboration (their core mission)

Open Source & Community

Community Contributions:

• Miroverse: Free community-created templates (1,000+ templates)
• Open API: Enables developers to build integrations
• Educational Content: Free workshops, webinars, and courses
• Template Library: 2,500+ free templates for all use cases

Key Personalities & Mentors

Investor Influence:

• Accel: Early believer, provided initial validation and Silicon Valley connections
• Iconiq Capital: Growth-stage expertise, introduced to Fortune 500 customers
• Salesforce & Atlassian: Strategic investors bringing partnerships and distribution

Notable Products / Projects

Media & Social Media Presence

Content Strategy

Educational Content:

• Weekly blog posts on collaboration best practices
• Template tutorials and use case guides
• Webinars with collaboration experts
• Customer success stories and case studies

Community Engagement:

• Miroverse community for template sharing
• User conferences (MiroVerse events)
• Online workshops and training sessions
• Active support in community forums

Thought Leadership:

• Research reports on remote work trends
• Collaboration maturity models
• Industry-specific innovation guides

Recent News & Updates (2024-2025)

Product Innovations

Q1 2024: Miro Assist 2.0 launched with enhanced AI capabilities

• Advanced clustering algorithms
• Natural language board creation
• AI-powered facilitation assistance

Q2 2024: Miro Innovation Workspace released

• Purpose-built environment for innovation teams
• AI-driven insights from collaboration data
• Integrated ideation-to-execution workflows

Q3 2024: Mobile app overhaul

• Native mobile experience redesign
• Offline mode for boards
• Enhanced touch gestures and pen support

Business Milestones

January 2024: Crossed $400 Million ARR milestone

• 50% year-over-year growth
• Strong enterprise expansion

March 2024: Announced 99% Fortune 100 penetration

• Solidified position as enterprise standard
• Expanded strategic accounts team

June 2024: Opened new APAC headquarters in Tokyo

• Signaling commitment to Asian market growth
• Local data center for Japan and Australia

Strategic Partnerships

February 2024: Deepened Microsoft partnership

• Enhanced Teams integration
• Co-selling motion for enterprise accounts
• Joint innovation roadmap

May 2024: Launched Zoom Apps 2.0 integration

• Native Miro experience within Zoom meetings
• Real-time collaboration during video calls

September 2024: Partnership with Slack announced

• Canvas integration with Miro boards
• Workflow automation between platforms

Market Expansion

April 2024: Launched Miro for Healthcare

• HIPAA-compliant collaboration
• Industry-specific templates
• Clinical workflow support

August 2024: Education expansion

• K-12 curriculum partnerships
• University licensing programs
• Free accounts for verified educators expanded globally

Funding & Financial News

No new funding rounds in 2024: Company remains well-capitalized from 2021 Series C, focusing on path to profitability.

IPO Speculation: Market rumors suggest potential IPO in 2025-2026 timeframe, though company has not confirmed plans.

Lesser-Known Facts

1. Russian Roots: Miro was founded in Perm, Russia, a city of 1 million people in the Ural Mountains—far from Silicon Valley. The founders bootstrapped for 5 years before moving to the US.

   
   

2. Y Combinator Success: Miro (then RealtimeBoard) was one of the most successful companies from Y Combinator’s Winter 2016 batch, alongside companies like Rippling and Zapier.

   
   

3. Name Inspiration: “Miro” was inspired by Spanish artist Joan Miró, known for colorful, imaginative works. The founders wanted a name that evoked creativity and visual expression.

   
   

4. Remote Before Remote Was Cool: Miro operated as a fully remote company from 2011—nearly a decade before COVID-19 made remote work mainstream. They truly practiced what they preach.

   
   

5. Initial Product for Developers: The first version of RealtimeBoard was targeted at software developers for technical diagramming and architecture planning—not the broad collaboration tool it became.

   
   

6. Freemium Viral Growth: Over 70% of Miro’s user acquisition comes from organic, viral sharing of boards. Users invite colleagues and clients, creating a self-reinforcing growth loop.

   
   

7. Template Economy: The Miro template library has become so valuable that some users have built consulting businesses around creating custom Miro templates for enterprises.

   
   

8. 99% Fortune 100 Penetration: Almost every Fortune 100 company has at least some teams using Miro—one of the highest penetration rates for any SaaS tool in its category.

   
   

9. Acquired Zero Companies: Unlike many tech unicorns, Miro has grown almost entirely organically without major acquisitions. All product features built in-house.

   
   

10. Founder Relationship: Co-founders Andrey Khusid and Oleg Shardin have worked together for over 15 years, maintaining a strong partnership throughout Miro’s growth.

    
    

11. COVID-19 Beneficiary: Miro’s user base grew from 1 million to 10 million in 2020 alone—a 10x increase driven by the sudden shift to remote work.

    
    

12. Enterprise First: Despite freemium model, 60% of Miro’s revenue comes from enterprise deals over $100K annually, showing strong bottom-up enterprise adoption.

    
    

13. Diverse Use Cases: Miro is used for everything from wedding planning to NASA mission planning—showcasing the versatility of the infinite canvas.

    
    

14. No Engineering Offices in Silicon Valley: Despite operational HQ in San Francisco, most engineering is distributed globally, with concentrations in Amsterdam and Berlin.

    
    

15. Strategic Investor Synergy: Strategic investors Salesforce, Atlassian, Zoom, and Okta all have deep product integrations, creating unique distribution advantages.

    
    

FAQs

What is Miro?

Miro is a visual collaboration platform that enables distributed teams to work together effectively through an infinite digital whiteboard. It provides tools for brainstorming, planning, design thinking, agile workflows, and strategic planning, serving over 60 million users across 200,000 organizations globally.

Who founded Miro?

Miro was founded by Andrey Khusid (CEO) and Oleg Shardin (CPO) in 2011 in Perm, Russia. They initially launched the company as RealtimeBoard before rebranding to Miro in 2019. Both founders remain actively involved in leading the company today.

What is Miro’s valuation in 2025?

Miro’s last publicly disclosed valuation was $17.5 billion from its Series C funding round in January 2021. The company raised $400 million in that round led by Iconiq Capital and Accel. As of 2024-2025, the company remains private and has not disclosed a new valuation.

What products or services does Miro offer?

Miro offers:

• Miro Board: Infinite canvas for visual collaboration
• Miro Assist: AI-powered features for clustering, summaries, and content generation
• 2,500+ Templates: Pre-built frameworks for agile, design thinking, strategy, and workshops
• 100+ Integrations: Connections with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Jira, Figma, and more
• Enterprise Solutions: Advanced security, SSO, admin controls, and dedicated support

Which investors backed Miro?

Key investors include:

• Accel (Lead investor from seed through Series C)
• Iconiq Capital (Led Series B and C)
• Insight Partners
• Salesforce Ventures
• BOND
• Strategic investors: Atlassian, Zoom, Okta

Total funding raised: $476 million across seed, Series A, B, and C rounds.

When did Miro achieve unicorn status?

Miro achieved unicorn status (valuation over $1 billion) in October 2020 with its Series B funding round of $50 million led by Iconiq Capital. Just one year later in January 2021, it became a decacorn with a $17.5 billion valuation.

How much revenue does Miro generate?

Miro generates over $400 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) as of 2024, representing approximately 50% year-over-year growth. The company serves 60+ million users and 200,000+ organizations, with 99% of Fortune 100 companies as customers.

Is Miro free to use?

Yes, Miro offers a free plan that includes:

• Up to 3 editable boards
• Unlimited team members
• Access to pre-made templates
• Core collaboration features

Paid plans start at $8/member/month (Starter) and $16/member/month (Business), with custom Enterprise pricing for large organizations requiring advanced security and governance.

What makes Miro different from competitors?

Miro differentiates through:

1. Platform breadth: 2,500+ templates vs competitors’ 300-500
2. Integration depth: 100+ tool integrations
3. Enterprise adoption: 99% Fortune 100 penetration
4. Use case versatility: Serves all teams, not just designers
5. AI innovation: First-mover with Miro Assist AI features
6. Network effects: Largest user base drives collaboration value

Can Miro be used offline?

As of 2024, Miro introduced offline mode for mobile apps (iOS and Android), allowing users to view and make basic edits to boards without internet connection. Changes sync automatically when connectivity is restored. The web app still requires internet connection for full functionality.

Conclusion

From its humble beginnings in Perm, Russia, to becoming a $17.5 billion visual collaboration leader, Miro’s journey exemplifies how solving a genuine problem with exceptional execution can create category-defining companies.

Co-founders Andrey Khusid and Oleg Shardin built Miro by experiencing firsthand the challenges of distributed team collaboration. What started as RealtimeBoard—a tool for their own remote work needs—evolved into the world’s leading visual collaboration platform serving 60 million users across 200,000 organizations.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Product-Led Growth Works: Miro’s freemium model and viral sharing drove organic acquisition of 70%+ of users
✅ Timing and Luck Matter: COVID-19 accelerated remote work adoption, growing Miro from 1M to 10M users in 2020
✅ Integrations Drive Value: 100+ tool integrations made Miro essential infrastructure for modern teams
✅ Remote-First Is Real: Miro practiced remote work since 2011, giving them credibility and authenticity
✅ Enterprise + SMB Balance: Serves both Fortune 100 and small teams through tiered offerings
✅ AI Drives Next Wave: Miro Assist positions company for AI-powered collaboration future

What’s Next for Miro?

As Miro looks toward 2025 and beyond, the company faces both opportunities and challenges:

Opportunities:

• AI-First Collaboration: Leading the shift to AI-powered visual collaboration
• Vertical Expansion: Industry-specific solutions for healthcare, education, manufacturing
• International Growth: Expanding in Asia-Pacific and emerging markets
• IPO Potential: With $400M+ ARR and strong growth, public markets could be on the horizon

Challenges:

• Competitive Intensity: Microsoft, Google, and Adobe all investing in visual collaboration
• Market Maturity: Post-pandemic normalization requires new growth drivers
• Enterprise Complexity: Continued expansion up-market requires sophisticated sales and support

For teams worldwide, Miro has become the digital canvas where ideas transform into action—where distributed teams collaborate as if they’re in the same room. Whether it’s product roadmaps at tech startups, design sprints at consultancies, or innovation workshops at Fortune 500 companies, Miro has fundamentally changed how we think, plan, and create together.

As Andrey Khusid, CEO, often says: “Collaboration is the future of work, and Miro is the platform that makes it possible—anywhere, anytime, for any team.”

With a strong product, massive scale, and clear vision for the AI-powered future of collaboration, Miro is positioned to remain the category leader for years to come.

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