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Redefining the Search Experience

Meet Thomas Payet. As a co-founder and the COO of Meilisearch, he shares the lessons learned while building a thriving open-source business and enhancing user experiences through powerful search strategies—all while also fostering a vibrant company culture.

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Who is Thomas?

Thomas, co-founder and COO of Meilisearch, was born on the island of La Réunion and later moved to France to pursue his studies. Drawn to the energy of Paris, he settled there and discovered his passion for building products that empower developers.

His background blends technical expertise and a keen interest in making connections: whether it’s brainstorming with teammates in a café, hopping on a video call (camera on!), or exchanging rapid-fire Slack messages full of emojis. Known for his straightforward style, Thomas can pivot quickly from heated debates to friendly banter without missing a beat, a reflection of his belief that disagreements don’t have to linger.

When he’s not pushing Meilisearch forward, Thomas can be found re-energizing by changing his workspace, sipping water to stay sharp, or encouraging his teammates to do the same. Today, he continues to shape Meilisearch’s vision, ensuring that everyone at the company can thrive—and have fun—while building an outstanding search engine.

Highlights
Co-founder and COO of Meilisearch, a pioneering open-source search engine that empowers developers with fast and effective search functionalities
Extensive experience in product development and operational excellence, with a focus on creating sustainable business models in the tech sector
Advocate for a four-day work week, successfully implementing a remote-first culture that enhances employee satisfaction and productivity at Meilisearch
Passionate about optimizing user experience through effective search strategies and leveraging AI to meet evolving customer expectations
Who is Thomas?

Thomas, co-founder and COO of Meilisearch, was born on the island of La Réunion and later moved to France to pursue his studies. Drawn to the energy of Paris, he settled there and discovered his passion for building products that empower developers.

His background blends technical expertise and a keen interest in making connections: whether it’s brainstorming with teammates in a café, hopping on a video call (camera on!), or exchanging rapid-fire Slack messages full of emojis. Known for his straightforward style, Thomas can pivot quickly from heated debates to friendly banter without missing a beat, a reflection of his belief that disagreements don’t have to linger.

When he’s not pushing Meilisearch forward, Thomas can be found re-energizing by changing his workspace, sipping water to stay sharp, or encouraging his teammates to do the same. Today, he continues to shape Meilisearch’s vision, ensuring that everyone at the company can thrive—and have fun—while building an outstanding search engine.

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What Your Audience Could Learn
Enhancing UX Through Effective Search Strategies

In an age of information overload, many applications still struggle with outdated or inefficient search functionalities. As users increasingly expect instant results tailored to their needs, traditional search solutions often fall short, leading to frustration and abandonment. This gap can result in lost sales, diminished customer satisfaction, and a lack of brand loyalty in an increasingly competitive market.

On your podcast, Thomas will explore how to create effective search experiences that prioritize user needs. He’ll discuss essential features like typo tolerance and customizable ranking algorithms, offering actionable insights to enhance search functionality. Drawing from his experience at Meilisearch, Thomas will help your listeners understand how optimizing search can significantly improve user engagement and satisfaction, ultimately leading to greater retention and business growth.

Harnessing AI to Revolutionize Search

The rapid evolution of AI has left many businesses grappling with how to effectively integrate it into their search functionalities. This shift, combined with increasingly high customer expectations, places immense pressure on businesses trying to maintain competitiveness. Today, the challenge lies in keeping up with the pace of technology change, while also juggling implementation speed, personalization, accuracy, and usability.

On your podcast, Thomas will explore the intersection of AI and search, discussing how AI can enhance search accuracy and user satisfaction. He’ll uncover the lessons learned while building Meilisearch and share powerful insights on implementing AI-driven features like personalized recommendations and contextual search understanding. By highlighting practical applications and potential pitfalls, Thomas will guide your listeners through the process of integrating AI into their search strategies, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of their users.

Creating a Vibrant Remote Culture on a Four-Day Work Week

The shift to remote work has prompted businesses to rethink how they cultivate a cohesive culture. While many tech organizations face challenges like maintaining engagement and communication, others have turned these obstacles into opportunities. By embracing flexible work schedules, particularly a four-day work week, some organizations are finally succeeding in creating an environment that champions both employee satisfaction and productivity. So, how can businesses effectively navigate this transition and thrive?

On your podcast, Thomas will explore the lessons learned during his journey, discussing how Meilisearch successfully adopted a four-day work week while enhancing company culture in a remote-first environment. He’ll discuss strategies for fostering transparency, open communication, and creativity among remote teams. By sharing insights into their experience, Thomas will help your audience understand how prioritizing employee well-being can lead to a more engaged workforce, ultimately driving organizational success and innovation.

Unlocking Business Growth With Open Source Innovation

Many tech companies struggle to find sustainable business models that align with their mission while also driving growth. The open-source approach, while appealing, presents its own set of challenges, such as balancing community contributions with commercial viability. This dilemma can hinder innovation or even limit the potential for scaling a business effectively, and understanding how to navigate this landscape is critical for long-term success.

On your show, Thomas will explore the intricacies of building a successful business around an open-source product. By sharing insights from Meilisearch’s journey, he will discuss how companies can foster a vibrant community while simultaneously developing a profitable business strategy, helping your listeners recognize the potential of their own open-source projects as pathways to innovation and business growth.

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