Massdrop launched in 2012 based on one idea: To use bulk buying to help people get lower prices on products they love. This idea became a platform, letting people band together across the internet to place large orders and unlock bargains on products no one needs in bulk: cameras, speakers, headphones, etc. Today, the company calls it “Community Commerce.” But Founder and CEO Steve El-Hage couldn’t have predicted how active that community would be in shaping the way Massdrop would work. Today — with hundreds of thousands of users — the company’s look, feel, features, and future have been deeply impacted by customer feedback. El-Hage wouldn’t have it any other way. In this exclusive interview, he explains how Massdrop brought users into the product development process, the huge benefits that has yielded, and how other startups can do the same from the earliest stage.