A product manager in start-up land. Paul takes us through the journey of creating a Starttup using the Brainmates product management methodology. He then provides 5 important lessons for any product manager in start-up land.
1. A product manager in start-up land
Paul Gray
CMO | Community @BGIStudio
@paulalexgray
2. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
About Me
CMO | Community Director @BGIStudio
Storyteller / Cool Daddy O / Status-Quo
Burninator / X & Y / MBA / Wannabe
Screenwriter / Startups / Anything is possible!
3. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Bubble Gum’s Excellent Adventure
4. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
A product manager in start-up land
5. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Business Canvas
Source: Business Model Generation
6. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
brainmates product delivery cycle
7. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
startup version
“Man I hate <<insert dumb thing>>”
“We could totally do that!”
8. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
startup version
Here’s 8 bullet points
about why we
should do this
(Actually, just 5, I got
distracted coz the
servers went down”
9. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
startup version
I’ve tested the shit
out of those 4
other products.
Here’s how they’re
good and how
they suck. I totally
know what the
market is missing!
Check out the 2
pager brief me
and Bob wrote
up”
10. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
startup version
“Hey, I already sent
you that”
11. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
startup version
“YEAH! Let’s do this!
Team meeting!”
2 minute
meeting
“YEAH! Let’s do
this!”
12. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
startup version
<<code>>,
<<build>>
<<make>>
13. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
startup version
Commence the
Blitz!
($0 Marketing
budget)
14. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Product Manger vs ‘Growth Hacker’
15. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Start-up lessons for product
managers
16. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Startup lessons for product managers
If you fail, everything fails
• YOU are responsible for the
product’s destiny
• Create a sense of urgency
• Don’t hesitate to freak out
• Explain why things matter to
all those who work with you
1
17. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Startup lessons for product managers
Get your hands dirty
• Write wireframes, make
mocks, cut code (maybe)
• Badger your way into
technical discussions
• Bring context – don’t be
something you’re not
2
18. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Startup lessons for product managers
Get involved outside your space
• Understand operations
• Learn the financials
• Customer service – talk to
customers EVERY DAY (7 days)
• Get in on biz-dev
3
19. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Startup lessons for product managers
Less scoping, more making
• Startups move at light speed
• Business case? Pish Posh
• Shorter requirements
• Scope and Refine AS YOU GO
4
20. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Startup lessons for product managers
Go rogue
• Expedite insight (surveys,
instant landing pages, A/B
tests)
• Talk to everybody
• Tear down rival products
5
21. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Product management lessons
for startup
22. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Prodmgmt lessons for startups
1 Transform vision into strategy
and tactics
• Articulate product champion
vision
• Help set focus
• Help lead teams to deliver
• Manage politics to ensure
vision goals met
23. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Prodmgmt lessons for startups
2 Keep the focus on the problem(s)
• Help to define, quantify and
prioritise opportunities
• Educate team members
• Provide tools and techniques for
planning
24. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Prodmgmt lessons for startups
3 Establish roles and
responsibilities
• Optimise outputs
• Reduce inefficiency and re-
work
• Improve team morale and
job satisfaction
25. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Prodmgmt lessons for startups
4 Create long-term product
management (not just launch)
• Establish frameworks for
growth and management
• Maintain focus as products
mature
26. ProductCamp Sydney 2013 | A product manager in start-up land | Paul Gray @paulalexgray
Prodmgmt lessons for startups
5 Don’t drink the kool aid
• Articulate vision into
concrete goals
• Give measureable,
understandable,
communicatable milestones
• Balance overconfidence