We track Product so you don't have to. Top Podcasts summarised, the latest AI tools, plus research and news in a 5 min digest.

Hey Product fans!

Welcome to this week’s 🌮 Product Tapas.

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What’s cooking? 🥘

📰 Not Boring – From Apple's latest M4-powered MacBook Pro to Salesforce's AI chatbot, it's been another busy week. We've also got scent technology breaking ground, an email client from Notion, and updates on some big numbers out of Uber and Meta – plus much more.

⌚ Time-Saving Tools & GPTs – This week’s picks include Bolt for no-code full-stack development, Wand’s rapid AI-powered rendering, and Aptitide for scalable customer insights, and a way to search out and find influencers aligned with your brand.

🍔 Blog Bites – In this week’s must reads for product teams, get insights on the “10 Simple Rules of Communication” every product team should master, plus a deep dive into Headspace’s journey to optimised user engagement, and we finish up with Ben Thompson’s look at AI’s role in reshaping enterprise technology.

🎙️ Pod Shots – Ever wonder how to find and sustain product-market fit? This week’s summary is one of my favourites yet (I know this sounds trite, but it really is!). It breaks down insights from Crossbeam CEO Bob Moore from his recent First Round Review pod on navigating shifting markets, innovative ways to validate ideas, what to do when PMF fades and much more.

Plenty to get stuck into - off we go! 🚀

📰 Not boring

• Apple updates the MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. Plus:

  • Apple’s all-new Mac mini is more mighty, more mini, and built for Apple Intelligence

  • Apple’s new Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad have USB-C. BUT the mouse STILL charges with a port on the bottom 🤯 

  • But also are sharply scaling back the production of the Vision Pro thanks to poor demand

• Scientists from Osmo have fully digitised scent; creating a system that can analyse air molecules to determine scents and print as a clear liquid.

• Salesforce AI chatbot Agentforce hits general availability

• Hot on the heels of last week’s Claude computer use Google is reportedly developing its own ‘computer-using agent’ AI system - Project Jarvis

• The Browser Company (creators of the Arc browser) is now building a second, much simpler browser (fyi it’s NOT replacing Arc). Video here

• GitHub Copilot goes multi-modal, moving beyond OpenAI models to support Claude 3.5 and Gemini

  • PLUS GutHub introduced GitHub Spark so users can create micro-apps from natural language prompts. Could be great for MVPs.

• HeyGen released a new feature that lets you build a (ridiculously realistic) video clone of yourself

• LinkedIn introduces Hiring Assistant for recruiters and jobs; an AI agent to write job applications

• Shopify launches Shopify Finance “unified financial tools you need to grow”

• Notion is launching an email client plus a Marketplace where you can buy and sell custom built templates and a stack more features to boot

• Miro announces new Innovation Workspace; a way to turn boards into interactive prototypes, documents and more. Waitlist now open

• Perplexity’s CEO (currently being sued by the Dow Jones) punts on defining ‘plagiarism’

• Aesthetic launches the ‘Shazam for fashion’; identify and shop for clothing you find on social media

• Uber revenues surge (Q3 earnings up 20% YoY) amid robust US consumer spending

• Meta reports Q3 revenue up 19% YoY to $40.59B, net income up 35% to $15.69B, and family daily active people up 5% to 3.29B

• Peloton Taps Ford Executive as CEO to Lead Turnaround Effort

  Want even more news?? View more here →

⌚️ Time-Saving Tools & GPTs

• Bolt: Prompt, run, edit, and deploy full-stack web apps. Yep, really. Create fullstack web applications into existence from a simple prompt, see them executed in real-time, debug errors as they occur & deploy a fully functional app—all without ever leaving your browser or personally writing a single line of code.

• Wand: Draw with AI; from sketch to fully rendered in seconds

• Aptitide: Listen to your customers at scale. Conduct and analyse conversations with hundreds of customers, delivering the depth of an interview at the scale of a survey

• Figflow: Translate designs into user stories

• Averi: craft marketing strategy, create endless content, and build a perfect-fit team

• CreatorsAI: Automatically find influencers aligned with your brand values across major platforms.

🍔 Blog Bites - Essential Reads for Product Teams

Influencing: 10 Simple Rules of Communication

First out the gate this week is something super short and sweet. I saw this great list on a recent “How They Grow” mailer from Jaryd Hermann so thought I’d share.

Can anyone say they stick to all of these? Not me, 7 is my kryptonite. Always room to improve.

1. Slow down to communicate completely and accurately.

2. Confirm your understanding by repeating back what you think you hear.

3. Remember, people are wired differently than you, so adjust to their style rather than making them come to your style.Instead of typing, consider picking up the phone.

4. Summarise verbal conversations in emails to confirm mutual understanding.

5. Share bad news, mistakes, worries, and problems with the right people, and do so with urgency.

6. Show patience and understanding with people who come to you with bad news, mistakes, worries, and problems … otherwise, they’ll hide those things from you.

7. Never multitask in meetings or conversations, and if you must handle something, ask for a pause to do so.

8. Assume positive intent when someone does something that bothers you, as they’re likely not doing what they did to bother you.

9. Resolve conflicts as quickly as you can once you are emotionally in control enough to do so.

10. Don’t let your issues with anyone fester.

Design: A Masterclass in User Activation

It’s been a minute since I included something from Built For Mars. But in his recent case study titled A Masterclass in User Activation, Peter delves into how meditation app Headspace expertly drives user activation through its signup and billing flow.

His teardown reveals how Headspace leverages small design choices and behavioural psychology to boost engagement and create a sense of immediate user benefit.

From setting goals to reducing churn, Headspace’s approach exemplifies how thoughtful user journey design can positively impact retention and satisfaction.

Read some key takeaways below, but I you should really explore the full case study here.

Opinion: Enterprise Philosophy and The First Wave of AI

If it’s been a minute since I featured Built for Mars, it’s been an even longer hiatus for Ben Thompson’s excellent Stratechery.

In this most recent article, he traces the evolution of enterprise-focused technology and how the principles guiding back-office digitisation, personal computing, and AI contrast with consumer-oriented approaches. Highlighting tech’s diverging philosophies, he argues that AI’s next major impact will come from enterprise applications focused on boosting efficiency and driving bottom-line results, potentially through autonomous agents and deeply integrated AI systems.

I’ve also just finished Noah Harari’s latest (incredible) book Nexus, that has a somewhat darker take on the potential impact of AI - a link for a future newsletter - so think I was in the mood for this piece. That said, a great read or even listen along to if you prefer.

Enjoying this and want more newsletters like it? Try Big Desk Energy:

🎙️ Pod Shots - Bitesized Podcast Summaries

Finding product-market fit can feel like winning the lottery. But what happens when the market moves? In a recent candid conversation on the First Round Review pod, Bob Moore, co-founder and CEO of Crossbeam, delves into the challenges and discoveries of his multi-time founder journey and shares deep insights into sustaining product-market fit amid shifting landscapes. Let’s dig in to see what founders and product managers can take away.

❓️How to Find and Keep Product Market Fit | Insights from Bob Moore

🎥Watch the full episode here

📆 Published: September 30th, 2024

🕒 Estimated Reading Time: 3 mins. Time saved: 78 mins🔥

🎯 Seeing Product Market Fit as a Moving Target

But Bob is keen to remind us that product-market fit is like a moving target, and markets are anything but static. This resonates hard as most founders picture product-market fit as a stationary goal they’re working towards, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

During his time at RJ Metrics, Moore experienced firsthand how easily product-market fit can slip away, especially when a once-solid market suddenly shifts due to new technology or evolving customer demands. RJ Metrics started strong, but Moore saw that even when you’re in sync with the market, that alignment can fade if you’re not anticipating change.

Key Takeaways:

• View product-market fit as something that evolves over time; don’t assume it’s a one-time achievement.

• Keep close tabs on emerging tech and customer trends to avoid getting blindsided by shifts in demand.

• Regularly revisit your product’s alignment with the market, especially as you scale or move into new verticals.

• Listen to subtle cues like customer feedback or small changes in usage metrics, which can signal upcoming shifts.

• Foster adaptability in your team, so they’re ready to make changes when the market moves.

🚀 The Art of Idea Validation

Early on in Crossbeam’s journey, Moore took an unconventional route: instead of validating his idea with target users, he sought feedback from other founders. Why? Founders often understand broader market trajectories better than end users and can help shape products with more scalable potential.

Moore’s approach to idea validation goes beyond simply asking if there’s a demand for a product. Instead, he’d bring multiple ideas to founders and gauge their reactions, observing which ones prompted follow-up questions or next steps. Whilst this should never replace speaking to customers, this innovative “gut check” helped him refine Crossbeam into something built for longevity and was a practical way of playing to his strengths.

Key Takeaways:

• Validate new ideas by seeking input from founders and investors as well as end users for a fuller perspective.

• Ask other founders, “Would you start this business?” rather than just “Would you buy this product?”

• Test your idea’s potential longevity by asking, “Does this align with where the market is going?”

• Ensure you’re passionate about the idea—Moore describes his criteria as a two-part test: whether it’s intellectually engaging and if his specific experience made him suited to solve it.

• Bring multiple ideas to discussions to encourage honest, comparative feedback without “buy-in bias” from your connections.

🔄 Navigating the “Perfect Storm” of Demand

Sometimes product-market fit isn’t about hitting a target but about timing. For RJ Metrics, the rapid growth they experienced was less about a specific product pivot and more about being positioned in the right place when market demand surged.

Moore describes how, after years of bootstrapping, RJ Metrics experienced hyper-growth almost overnight, simply because the market demand caught up with the product. But while growth periods feel like a win, they also test the company’s resilience. Being able to capitalise on these moments is about being ready to scale—both the product and the team—when the opportunity arises.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognise that sometimes, patience and persistence can be just as valuable as product changes.

• Be prepared for the “perfect storm” of demand by laying down scalable systems, even when growth seems distant.

• Reinvest in R&D during slower periods, so the product is ready for rapid adoption when timing aligns.

• Build resilience into your team culture, encouraging patience and confidence for slow periods.

• Remember that timing is a major factor in scaling, so don’t lose momentum when the market finally lines up.

⚡ When Product-Market Fit Fades: Signs to Watch

Falling out of product-market fit can be subtle, even when you’re seeing some positive signals, so having the awareness to catch it early is critical. At RJ Metrics, Moore found that growth metrics—like customer churn—were lagging indicators. This meant they weren’t aware of their weakening position until they were in a full-blown plateau.

Ignoring early signals can lead to a slow decline. For example, RJ Metrics initially dismissed customer churn, chalking it up to structural issues rather than a sign of fundamental shifts in the market. In hindsight, Moore sees that recognising these signals sooner would have allowed for proactive changes that might have sustained product-market fit longer.

Key Takeaways:

• Treat customer churn as a priority signal; regular churn spikes often reflect market misalignment.

• Watch for “creeping churn” where gradual increases are dismissed as noise—this can signal deeper market shifts.

• Have an internal process for “intellectual honesty” checks, ensuring no one is rationalising away real issues.

• When customer acquisition costs start to rise, assess if your product or positioning is still resonating.

• Look at the broader context: if you feel competitors are getting less sophisticated, it might be a sign you’re missing shifts they’re already addressing.

🛠️ Innovative Approaches to Pricing and Early Partnerships

Moore’s “joint jam sessions” introduced a unique way to build early product engagement without traditional pricing pressure. By inviting two potential partners to a collaborative demo, Moore found that he could sidestep the usual single-user limitations and kickstart product adoption in groups.

This approach helped Crossbeam develop a viral adoption cycle before the product was fully built. By letting users see value through their own data interactions, Moore minimised the friction of early adoption and avoided needing a paid tier until product fit was further validated.

Key Takeaways:

• Delay pricing decisions when possible to encourage early adoption without financial barriers.

• Use “group demos” to create instant network effects and collaborative buy-in from potential users.

• Test product viability and demand by creating scenarios where users experience the product’s value firsthand.

• Avoid “single-player” demo modes in products designed to be used collaboratively; invite partners to see the ecosystem potential from day one.

• Think of pricing as a late-stage choice; ensure the value is clear before setting limits or fees.

🤝 Merge or Compete? Knowing When to Join Forces

One of Moore’s most unconventional moves was the merger of Crossbeam with competitor Reveal. Traditionally, merging two scaling private companies is rare, but Moore recognised that both companies needed access to each other’s customers for full market value.

By joining forces with Reveal, Crossbeam could offer customers a seamless experience that neither could deliver independently. This decision required Moore to set ego aside, but it ultimately created more value for both companies’ customers and allowed them to compete more effectively in a crowded market.

Key Takeaways:

• Consider mergers when both companies’ value propositions are complementary but reliant on each other for full impact.

• Evaluate when competition may be causing harm to the customer experience.

• If combining forces provides a network effect, it’s likely more valuable than remaining separate.

• Be prepared to set aside ego to pursue what benefits the market and your customer base most.

• Prioritise customer needs in these decisions; the best mergers create stronger user experiences and fuel growth.

🧠 The Power of Intellectual Honesty

Perhaps the most profound takeaway from Moore’s journey is the emphasis on intellectual honesty—a willingness to question assumptions, even when they validate our beliefs or make us comfortable. During RJ Metrics’ toughest times, Moore realised that being truly honest about the state of the business might have saved them earlier.

Intellectual honesty means recognising when optimism blinds you to critical challenges. For Moore, this mindset enabled him to make pivotal decisions at Crossbeam and recognise early on when his assumptions needed revisiting.

Key Takeaways:

• Regularly challenge core beliefs about the market, your product, and even your team’s performance.

• Develop a company culture that values feedback loops and transparency, even on uncomfortable topics.

• When something feels “off” in metrics or feedback, pursue it until you find the root cause.

• Be especially wary if your confidence in past assumptions overrides signals indicating they may no longer be valid.

• Intellectual honesty isn’t just about humility—it’s about continuous alignment with reality, which is essential for long-term success.

Final Thoughts

Bob Moore’s journey shows that finding and keeping product-market fit is an ongoing process. From being ready when the market shifts to adopting non-traditional validation and customer acquisition tactics, Moore’s experience underscores the importance of flexibility, honesty, and an openness to unconventional strategies.

Want to know more quickly? Just ask the episode below [web only]👇️🤯
or if you prefer, 🎥Watch the full episode here

📅Timestamps:

• [00:00:30] Product market fit challenges.

• [00:04:58] Founder market fit exploration.

• [00:08:09] Founders' empathy and market understanding.

• [00:10:08] Founder bias and investment decisions.

• [00:14:06] Microsites for lead generation.

• [00:15:44] Content generation strategies and ideas.

• [00:18:41] Intrinsic virality of Crossbeam.

• [00:22:22] Data analytics for e-commerce.

• [00:25:30] Product market fit evolution.

• [00:28:06] Modern data stack revolution.

• [00:30:42] Business pivoting strategies.

• [00:35:04] Spin out of RJ Metrics.

• [00:38:52] Intellectual honesty in business.

• [00:40:17] Intellectual honesty in entrepreneurship.

• [00:42:27] Intellectual honesty in business.

• [00:47:27] RevOps conversations leading to partnerships.

• [00:48:30] Founder-led sales and network effects.

• [00:51:23] Product market fit validation.

• [00:55:05] Account mapping process challenges.

• [00:58:00] Network effects in product growth.

• [01:00:27] Viral growth through joint sessions.

• [01:03:19] Network effect in B2B software.

• [01:06:11] Merger of scaling private companies.

• [01:10:02] Customer integration and collaboration challenges.

• [01:14:10] French work ethic in startups.

• [01:15:55] Intellectual honesty in decision-making.

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That’s a wrap.

As always, the journey doesn't end here!

Please share and let us know what you would like to see more or less of so we can continue to improve your Product Tapas. 🚀👋

Alastair 🍽️.