The Untold Story of a Visionary Pushed Out of His Own Creation

March 5, 2025

When the history of Twitter—now known as X—is discussed, names like Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams dominate the narrative. However, one key player who played a pivotal role in Twitter’s inception is often left out: Noah Glass. Not only did Glass help shape the platform, but he also came up with its iconic name. Yet, despite his significant contributions, Glass was quietly removed from the company in its early days, becoming the forgotten co-founder of Twitter.

The Odeo Days and the Birth of Twitter

Noah Glass was a software developer and entrepreneur with a deep passion for digital communication. In the mid-2000s, he was working at Odeo, a podcasting company co-founded by Evan Williams. Glass was an integral part of Odeo’s creative force, constantly brainstorming new ideas.

However, when Apple introduced podcasting support in iTunes, Odeo’s core business model became obsolete. This crisis forced the team to rethink their direction—a pivotal moment that led to the birth of Twitter.

Glass and Jack Dorsey began discussing the idea of a microblogging platform—a service that would allow users to share short, real-time status updates with others. Glass championed the concept, refining the idea and helping to build the early version of the platform.

Noah Glass: The Man Who Named Twitter

One of Glass’s most significant contributions to Twitter’s history is its name. He was inspired by the concept of quick, short bursts of information—similar to birds chirping. This idea led him to propose the name “Twitter”, perfectly encapsulating the platform’s essence of instant communication.

His enthusiasm and leadership played a crucial role in rallying the team behind the idea. Without Glass’s involvement, Twitter might never have gained the momentum it needed in its infancy.

The Internal Power Struggle and His Ouster

Despite his instrumental role, internal politics and power struggles led to Glass being pushed out of the company. Evan Williams, who had financial control over Odeo and its assets, sidelined Glass and eventually removed him from the company entirely.

Glass’s name was erased from Twitter’s official history, and he was never formally credited as a co-founder. Unlike Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Williams, who became tech industry icons, Glass disappeared from the spotlight, his contributions buried beneath the success of the company he helped create.

Life After Twitter: A Low-Profile Journey

After being ousted from Twitter, Glass remained largely out of the public eye. Unlike his former colleagues, who went on to become billionaires and Silicon Valley figures, he took a step back from mainstream tech entrepreneurship.

While he worked on various tech projects, none reached the level of global success that Twitter did. For years, his name was barely mentioned in conversations about Twitter’s origins—until recent efforts to recognize his role began to gain traction.

Recognition of a Forgotten Founder

In recent years, Noah Glass’s contributions have come back into the spotlight. As journalists and historians revisited Twitter’s early days, they uncovered how Glass had been a driving force behind its creation. Interviews and documentaries have helped shed light on his story, ensuring that his legacy is no longer ignored.

Despite being pushed out, Glass’s impact on the world of social media and digital communication remains undeniable. Twitter revolutionized real-time news, public discourse, and online activism, and it all started with an idea that Glass nurtured and named.

Legacy and Lessons from Glass’s Story

Noah Glass’s journey is a classic Silicon Valley tale—a visionary who was integral to a groundbreaking innovation but was later erased from its success story. His story serves as a reminder of how power dynamics in startups can lead to key contributors being forgotten.

Today, as Twitter (X) continues to evolve, the world is finally recognizing that Noah Glass was more than just an early participant—he was a co-founder who helped shape the platform into what it became. His contributions to one of the most influential social media platforms in history deserve their rightful place in the tech hall of fame.