Our slide deck from Podcamp Toronto hosted on February 26, 2011. Presentation was 45 minutes with Q&A. Shared our process on building a product successfully with constraints. Topics included: * Getting started quickly * Establishing structure * Creating a team * Defining the problem * Planning an approach * Executing a build * Finding the minimum * Acknowledging mistakes * Launching a product Learn more about this event at http://2011.podcamptoronto.com or #pcto2011. Contact us anytime @skanwar, @drupeek or http://jetcooper.com.

1. How to Build a Product
in 99 Days"
February 26, 2011
Podcamp Toronto
@skanwar
@drupeek

2. - You
k
- Andrew Pee Whatever You Do
- Satish Kanwar"
Jet Cooper
Jet Cooper
Rocketr
Task Ave.
O
LeanCoffeeT
TEDxToronto
LeanCoffeeTO

3. Disclaimers"
Terms and conditions of what you learn.
• There are no best ways, just better ways
• Practice is greater than theory
• It never stops changing

4. Setting Context"
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here
today in the presence of these
witnesses, to join…

5. Define ʻstartupʼ"
A startup (product) is a team in search for a
repeatable, scalable business model. – Steve Blank

6. Define ʻbusiness modelʼ"
A business model is how something makes, gives and
gets value. – Alex Osterwalder

7. Define ʻvalueʼ"
The value is what customers are willing
to pay for. – Someone

8. Le Format"
We think that a digital product can
be created in 99 days-ish.

9. Survey"
Pick less than two, please.
1. I’ve made a product
2. I’m making a product
3. I want to make a product

10. DAY"
-27"

11. Get started, quickly"
How to structure experiments.
• Adding constraints
• Lean startup methodology
• Live or die by its own merits

12. DAY"
-19"

13. Establish structure"
How to set expectations.
• Define parameters (time, budget)
• Define systems (legal)
• Define goals (revenue!)

14. DAY"
-6"

15. Create a team"
How to find the right people.
• Round out the team
• Advisory boards
• Support groups

16. Motivations"
Why are we doing this?
• Setting expectations
• Interests > Skills
• What’s a win?

17. Test"
Test test
• Business models

18. DAY"
0"

19. Define the problem"
How to articulate what you’re doing.
• What’s really grinding your gears?
• What is the opportunity?
• What is the hypothesis?
• Who has this problem? Use cases
• What is my business model?

20. Test"
Test test
• Business models

21. DAY"
11"

22. Plan an approach"
How to get your blueprint.
• There is no strategy, only a hypothesis
• Make more decisions, more often
• Create iterations, make pivots

23. Familiarity vs. Adaptation"
Agile vs. Waterfall (and back again).
• Does this feel right?
• Project planning does not equal project reacting
• Frequency of communication is paramount

24. DAY"
16"

25. Execute, execute, execute, execute, exec
How to actually build stuff.
• Customer development principles
• Design to test hypotheses faster
• Develop in what you know best

26. Test"
Test test
• Business models

27. Product: “It has to achieve this”
Design: “OK, we can suggest this”
Dev: “Sure, but we should consider this”
Customer: “Got it. What do I do next?”"

28. DAY"
25"

29. Find the minimum"
How to ask yourself the right questions.
• Set the foundation first
• Add operations in the right order
• Callout each individual assumption
• Are you moving with or against the currents?

31. DAY"
41"

32. Acknowledge mistakes"
How to justify your pace.
• Fail fast, but minimize how far you fall
• Pick your battles according to expertise
• Saying “no” is okay. Saying “no, because” is better.

33. DAY"
72"

35. DAY"
99"

36. Launch, please"
How to stop wasting time.
• Ship…
• Tweet…
• Have a scotch…

37. Done"
From that day forward, you still have a lot
of figuring out to do.

38. DAY"
118
"

39. Get back to work"
How to keep spending time.
• Talk about the product
• Make asks of the customer
• Now it’s time for a strategy

40. For example, in 99 days…"
We completed a product at 15% of plan.
• We spent $9,917.56 to get to market
• We made 759 git commits over 99 days
• We had 3 heated debates about a feature being MVP
• We lost 30 days from using square pegs in round holes
• We did 7 iterations - 2 over 30 days, 5 over 7 days
• We made it here with a business model – March 7 rollout

41.
Thanks"
hello@jetcooper.com
jetcooper.com
#jetcooper