Machine Heart

Apr 6, 2026 · Industry Insights

How Obsidian Thrives with 3 Engineers, No Funding, and No Meetings at a $350M Valuation

Obsidian, a globally popular Markdown note‑taking app valued at $350 million, operates with just three full‑time engineers, no venture capital, and a meeting‑free culture, relying on an open‑source plugin ecosystem, a "Ramblings" communication channel, and paid add‑ons to sustain its growth while contrasting sharply with Notion's cloud‑first approach.