Case Study: Buffer strengthens remote team connection with Donut Intros

Buffer keeps a remote team connected with Donut Intros and 6,000+ introductions

Buffer, a global and remote-first social media software company, faced the challenge of keeping its 70+ employees connected beyond their immediate teams. Without a shared physical space, informal cross-team conversations were not happening organically, which risked weakening collaboration and trust. To address this, Buffer implemented Donut Intros from the vendor Donut to provide a scalable solution for fostering these connections directly within Slack.

The solution from Donut was a simple, opt-in program that randomly paired teammates for 30-minute conversations every two weeks. This created a low-pressure way for employees to build familiarity. The results were significant, with over 6,000 introductions completed. Buffer's engagement far exceeded benchmarks, logging 455 conversations in 2025 alone—more than three times the average for similar-sized companies. Furthermore, 100% of survey respondents said they enjoyed their conversations, demonstrating the solution's positive impact on company culture.

Buffer