Reinventing the Wheel: From Slides to Simplicity

In a world where PowerPoint has long dominated the way we present ideas, Grant Lee, Co-Founder and CEO of Gamma, is challenging the norm. With a strong belief that great ideas shouldn’t be held back by clunky design tools, Grant and his team launched Gamma to offer a fresh alternative—one that prioritizes writing and flexibility over rigid slides and design-heavy workflows.

Gamma's foundation is built on “cards”—modular content blocks that offer the flexibility to express ideas freely. Whether it's a few words or a large stat, the card format accommodates the user’s flow, enabling presentations to evolve naturally. This low-barrier, writing-first approach opens the door for anyone with an idea to build polished, engaging content.

Embracing Change: Why a Rebrand Was Essential

Despite reaching over 50 million users, Gamma recently underwent a complete brand overhaul. According to Grant, the previous branding was simply a placeholder—adequate in the company’s early days but no longer reflective of its evolved identity and ambitions. The rebrand, five months in the making, was about aligning the internal team's energy and vision with an external brand that could carry Gamma forward for the next decade.

Built for External Impact

While Gamma has broad utility, it's particularly resonating with users crafting high-stakes presentations for clients, partners, or customers. These are not just internal updates—they’re polished deliverables that need to impress. With AI tools that help synthesize outlines, import PDFs, and instantly format content, Gamma removes the friction and lets ideas shine.

Power in Choice: Multi-Model AI Support

Grant’s team also saw early on the importance of giving users access to a range of AI image models. From Ideogram for text-heavy visuals to Leonardo for sharp aesthetic output, Gamma users are empowered to select the right tool for their needs. The company’s culture of experimentation, rooted in its team’s experience at Optimizely, allows it to remain nimble and user-centric.

Looking Ahead: Design Partners, Not Just Tools

What excites Grant about the future? Turning Gamma into a true design partner—an AI-powered assistant that doesn’t just follow commands but offers proactive suggestions, visualizations, and even format variations. The long-term vision includes broadening Gamma’s reach beyond presentations into social content, documents, and more interactive formats.

For those curious about trying it out, Grant offers simple advice: “Just do it.” Gamma’s freemium model makes it easy to jump in and start creating, no designer needed.