How TED Talks Got to 10 Billion Views (Without Ads)

A case study for people who believe in the power of people
✍️ by Deepak Kumar Prabakaran (aka Community Man)

This isn’t a “growth hack” guide.
It’s not about algorithms.
And it’s definitely not a playbook on how to go viral.

It’s a story.
About how one of the most iconic platforms in the world — TED — trusted its people.
And how those people built something that reached 10 billion views.

I wrote this because I’ve been obsessed with community for over 10 years.
And TED?
Is a masterclass in how community quietly builds empires.

In this case study, I unpack how it all happened:

• How TED picked just 6 talks to publish online in 2006
• How they emailed 8,000 attendees — and sparked a movement
• How volunteers translated talks into 115+ languages
• How TEDx made people feel like insiders, not just viewers
• And how it all led to 10 billion views — without running a single ad campaign

Whether you’re a founder, a marketer, a community builder, or just curious how real impact spreads —this is for you.

Take it. Read it. Steal a few ideas.
And maybe, build your own version of TED.

With people.
Not pixels.