How I Tested That

In this conversation, Chris Guest discusses the importance of understanding problem perception and the nuances of desirability testing.

He shares insights from his experience with Topology Eyewear, where they tackled the problem of ill-fitting glasses. Chris explains the Problem Perception Spectrum and how it helped them position and communicate their solution. He also emphasizes the need to find early adopters who resonate with the problem and shares his favorite experiments, including a concierge MVP for Topology Eyewear.

Chris Guest shares his experience setting up a pop-up store to test the desirability of a product. He explains how they controlled the experiment and measured interest and feedback from customers. The pop-up store was a success, leading to further scaling and growth.

Chris also discusses the transition from desirability to feasibility and viability, and the importance of trust in the customer experience. He concludes by introducing his current work on traction design and the need to validate market opportunity early on in the startup process.

In this conversation, Dave Masters, Director of Product at Realtor.com, shares his insights on testing and experimentation in big companies.

He discusses the need for testing and how to break out of the feature factory mindset. Dave shares a case study on how they tested a new product idea using customer interviews and concierge testing.

He also talks about the value of using customer quotes in experiments and the differences between concierge and Wizard of Oz experiments. Dave provides tips for product managers in big companies who want to champion experimentation and shares his contact information for further discussion.

In this conversation, Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden discuss their journey in scaling their training business, focusing on the assumptions, risks, and testing methods they are employing.

They share insights on the importance of community building, the challenges of filling workshops, and the balance between qualitative and quantitative success metrics.

The discussion highlights the significance of cold outreach, learning from past experiments, and navigating uncertainty in entrepreneurship.

Brandy and Craig discuss their collaboration and the challenges they faced in teaching entrepreneurship and de-risking startups.

They highlight the importance of testing and iterating through customer interviews, surveys, and landing pages. They also emphasize the need to overcome biases and consider counterfactuals when evaluating risk.

The success stories they share include students winning funding at Draper University and turning down investments to pursue their own vision. They discuss the process of scaling their program and providing support to entrepreneurs through events and resources. They also touch on the importance of questioning assumptions and guiding entrepreneurs to discover the gaps in their understanding.

The conversation explores the importance of feedback and testing in entrepreneurship. It emphasizes the need to be open to feedback and willing to challenge assumptions. The hosts discuss the concept of being right versus being successful and the value of honest feedback.

They also touch on the importance of understanding the problem and the customer before jumping into activities like advertising and landing page optimization.

The conversation concludes with a discussion on the founders' initiatives, including Founder Fridays and Help a Startup Out.

In this engaging podcast episode, David J Bland hosts Bruce McCarthy and Melissa Appel, who share their insights on product management, stakeholder alignment, and the journey of writing their new book, 'Aligned.'

They discuss the challenges of managing stakeholders, the importance of face-to-face communication, and the iterative process of testing ideas and content for their book.

The conversation also dives into marketing strategies post-publication and the exploration of new audiences and formats to enhance the book's impact.