The Road To: Scaling Your Software Product & Design Team

Building and scaling a strong product and design department is essential for turning your startup’s vision into a successful, market-ready product. It requires more than just an innovative idea—it demands strategic planning, effective collaboration, and a deep understanding of both your product and design needs. Whether you’re refining an existing product or creating something entirely new, the process of developing and launching your product involves navigating complex challenges that can significantly impact your success.

In this blog, we’ve compiled a series of expert-led on-demand videos that cover key aspects of product and design development. From shaping your product-market fit and establishing a solid design foundation in the early stages to building high-performing teams and streamlining your product launch process, these sessions offer actionable advice, real-world examples, and best practices to guide you through the product-building journey.

No matter your role—whether you're a product manager, founder, design lead, or team leader—these videos will equip you with the knowledge and tools to refine your strategies and create high-impact products that resonate with your target audience.

Table of Contents: 

1. Cracking the Code: Product Success and Market Research

2. Brand Beginnings: Crafting an Unforgettable Product

3. By Design: Assembling Your Dream Product Team

4. Product Style Showdown: Trend Following vs. Trailblazing Creativity

5. Build Fast and Break Things? Balancing Swift Execution and Quality Output

6. Let’s Build Trust: Creating Synergy Between Product and Engineering Teams

7. Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines!: Launching Products Efficiently

   
   

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Cracking the Code: Product Success and Market Research

Bringing a product to market requires asking the right questions and conducting thorough research. Whether you're validating a new idea or refining an existing product, understanding market demand is critical.

Topics Covered:

• Identifying key questions to assess product viability

• Conducting meaningful market research on a budget

• Evaluating market fit for products with no precedent

• Designing unbiased research and knowing when to seek expert input

• Navigating market rejection and refining your approach

Speakers: Jordyn Bonds, David Kirkdorffer

Brand Beginnings: Crafting an Unforgettable Product

A strong brand is more than just a logo—it’s the foundation of how customers perceive and connect with your product. Even in the early stages, strategic branding can set you apart in a competitive market.

Topics Covered:

• When to start developing your product’s brand

• The importance of branding in the pre-seed phase

• Designing a product that stands out in a fast-paced industry

• Aligning branding with your business model and target audience

• Balancing aesthetics, functionality, and differentiation in a crowded market

Speakers: Dan Perrera, Tristan Dwyer, Benjamin Shown, Angie Meltsner

By Design: Assembling Your Dream Product Team

Building a product team that aligns with your startup’s needs—both now and in the future—is key to long-term success. The right team drives product innovation, identifies new opportunities, and continuously improves based on customer feedback.

Topics Covered:

• Structuring your team for immediate needs and future growth

• Balancing in-house talent with outsourced capabilities

• Establishing a strong team culture that adapts as your startup scales

• Creating a product team that fosters innovation and iteration

Speakers: Lauren Creedon, Jason Wu, Emily Barden

Product Style Showdown: Trend Following vs. Trailblazing Creativity

Balancing current design trends with bold innovation is essential for creating a product that stands out. Knowing when to follow industry standards and when to push creative boundaries can define your product’s success.

Topics Covered:

• Navigating the balance between minimalist and complex, innovative design

• Integrating accessibility into your product’s brand and user experience

• Identifying when accessibility should be prioritized based on audience and use case

• Refining your product’s brand language if it falls flat post-launch

Speakers: Shirley Wang, Jen Bullard, Aniket Warade, Courtney Bensinger

Build Fast and Break Things? Balancing Swift Execution and Quality Output

Creating a product that resonates with customers is tough enough, but doing it quickly while maintaining high quality can feel like an impossible task. A well-structured plan, however, can pave the way for successful, efficient execution.

Topics Covered:

• When is it crucial to prioritize quality over speed, and how does this shift at different startup stages?

• Pros and cons of a scrappy vs. thorough product development approach

• Finding the right development cycle for your product and market

• Managing technical debt without sacrificing progress

Speakers: Rosie Friedman, Mike Gionfriddo, Jenna Koo

Let’s Build Trust: Creating Synergy Between Product and Engineering Teams

Successful product development hinges on a strong partnership between product managers and engineering teams. Both rely on each other, and trust is essential for driving progress and achieving shared goals.

Topics Covered:

• Common gaps between product and engineering teams and how to bridge them

• Proven methods for product leaders to communicate challenges with engineering

• Keeping both teams aligned with the same objectives

• Steps to establish and nurture trust between product managers and engineering leaders

Speakers: Eliseo Miranda, Bruno Couto, Vanessa Ferranto, Avantika Gomes, Nick Morton 

Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines!: Launching Products Efficiently

When launching a new product or feature, a flawless release is essential. First impressions matter, and the entire team needs to be aligned for success, from customer success to sales to support.

Topics Covered:

• Key areas of focus for successful product launches

• Common mistakes to avoid during the launch process

• Best practices for keeping products on schedule

• Tools that streamline product management

• How product launch best practices have evolved with remote work becoming the norm

Speakers: Yonas Dinkneh, Drew Parrett, Gwen Betts, Glo Robinson 

As you work to scale your product and design department, it’s essential to implement the right strategies, build the right teams, and continuously refine your approach. The videos in this series offer expert insights on everything from structuring your department and aligning product-market fit to optimizing team dynamics and streamlining the product launch process.

By applying these best practices and learning from real-world examples, you can overcome the challenges of scaling and build a high-performing product and design team that drives success. Stay ahead of industry trends and receive actionable advice by subscribing to our newsletter below—your next step in advancing your product and design journey!