Building an AI startup is anything but glamorous. I want to take you behind the curtain and share the unfiltered reality of our journey. From the heated debates over our roadmap to the bug that almost derailed our launch, this is the real story of what it takes to build and ship an AI product.
The Counterintuitive Truth
In product roadmapping, the best practitioners often do less, not more.
The lesson: you should focus on one thing and do it exceptionally well. It sounds simple. It's incredibly hard to execute.
The Framework That Actually Works
Here is a simple framework for evaluating product roadmapping. It's not complicated, but it requires discipline.
Step 1: most founders overthink this and underspend on execution
This is where most people go wrong. They skip this step entirely and jump straight to execution. Don't do that.
Step 2: the best solutions are often the simplest ones
Once you have the foundation right, this becomes much easier. I've watched founders struggle with this for months when the answer was staring them in the face.
Step 3: Iterate relentlessly
Nothing works perfectly the first time. The companies that get product roadmapping right treat it as an ongoing process, not a one-time project.
What I Tell Founders
Before deciding anything about product roadmapping, start with three questions:
What's your timeline? Because the right approach for a company with 6 months of runway is very different from one with 3 years.
What have you already tried? Most founders have tried something. Understanding what didn't work is often more valuable than knowing what might.
Who on your team owns this? If the answer is "everyone" or "no one," that's your first problem to solve.
These questions seem simple but they reveal a lot about where a company actually stands.
This connects to broader themes around roadmap ai, agile, product strategy that I've been thinking about a lot lately.
What's Next
Best practice in product roadmapping is changing fast. What worked last year might not work next year. That's both the challenge and the opportunity.
My advice: stay curious, stay humble, and stay close to the people who are actually doing the work. Read less thought leadership and do more experiments. Talk to fewer consultants and more practitioners.
If you're building in this space, the best time to get product roadmapping right is before you need to. Don't wait for a crisis to force your hand.
I'll keep sharing what I learn. This stuff matters too much to keep to myself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Is this guide based on real experience?
Every recommendation in this guide comes from direct experience, either from building and selling my own companies, or from patterns I've observed across 234 angel investments. I don't write about things I haven't personally tested.
Q:How often is this guide updated?
I revisit and update my guides regularly as I learn new things and as the market evolves. The core principles tend to stay stable, but specific tactics and tools get refreshed based on what's working right now.
Q:Who is this guide designed for?
This guide is written for founders and operators who want practical, actionable advice rather than theoretical frameworks. Whether you're just starting out or scaling an existing business, the principles here apply across stages.
Q:How should I work through this guide?
Don't try to absorb everything in one sitting. Read through once to get the big picture, then go back and work through each section as it becomes relevant to your current challenges. Bookmark it and return to it regularly.