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!

If you’ve been forwarded this or just stumbled upon it, you’re in for a treat. For the best reading experience, check out the web version and sign up for future editions here.

What’s on the menu this week? 🧑‍🍳

📰 Not Boring – Christmas maybe around the corner, but yep, it’s still AI season in the tech world. OpenAI is keeping us on the edge of our seats with its 12 Days of OpenAI livestreams. Meanwhile, Amazon’s re:Invent conference was all about foundational AI models and automation breakthroughs. Spotify, Samsung, and Google all have updates worth watching. Plus an excellent Lego/UX fan’s dream.

⌚ Time-Saving Tools & GPTs – From forms, to AI-native prototyping and tools that make building apps as easy as chatting, not to mention a super-handy prompt for better Claude responses. This week’s selection is packed.

🍔 Blog Bites – Whether it’s sharpening your product sense, learning from startup failures, or exploring UX innovations, this week’s must-reads for product teams are all about actionable insights.

🎙️ Pod Shots – We close out with a deep dive into Discord’s journey from startup to a community powerhouse. Discover lessons on leadership, scaling, and why gaming might be the ultimate prep for CEO life.

Plenty to get stuck into - off we go! 🚀

📰 Not boring

• OpenAI has 12 days of OpenAI running as of yesterday (5th Dec) 12 with livestreams announcing new features and products every day 🎅 

  • Products rumoured to include a public release of the company's text-to-video model Sora and a new "reasoning" AI model similar to o1-preview. Perhaps we may even see DALL-E 4 or a new image generator based on GPT-4o's multimodal capabilities

• It’s also Amazon’s re:invent conference this week with the big news of a stack of new foundational models (text, image video etc.) plus new AI agent capabilities which allows companies to set up and use them to execute tasks across a series of different systems. CEO Matt Garman covered how Moody’s uses such a group to analyse company risk profiles. Everything new is now AI.

• One other interesting thing announced was the Amazon rolls out Buy with AWS button to let software vendors more easily sell to its cloud customers. Hot off the heels from Buy with Prime (well 2yrs later….)

• Ofcom has published its annual Online Nation report, packed with data on web usage, digital devices, gaming, social media, online dating, crypto, and more

• Spotify partners with DeepMind to bring NotebookLM’s podcasters to its streaming service just in time for the annual Wrapped

  • That aside, this year’s edition has received some scathing feedback

• The Browser Company (behind Arc Browser) teases Dia, its new AI browser

• Google’s NotebookLM leader has left the company to work on a new project in the space

• Google Chat (who use this?) introduces huddles: instant-on, audio-first meetings. Slack, much?

• As ElevenLabs launches its own take on NotebookLM

• Samsung smart glasses debut in January, software reveal ‘this month’

• Coinbase adds Apple Pay. Some pretty neat progress in crypto and Web3 right now and better onboarding is just one of them (but a damn important part)

• Here’s a Google drive folder with 155 trend reports going into 2025. TL;DR apparently AI is one to watch…

• For all my UX (and Lego) fans out there, I present to you, The UX of LEGO Interface Panels

Seeking impartial news? Meet 1440.

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⌚️ Time-Saving Tools & GPTs

• Fillout: My go-to form tool of choice; from forms, to scheduling, pdf creation even payments, workflow and signatures it’s remarkably powerful. I’m currently running an MVP using this right now

• Formester: But I recently got sent this which looks to help to use AI to better tackle the conditional logic often needed in forms. One to watch perhaps

• Ballpark: Watch how users organise topics. Ask participants to categorise topics, helping improve your website or product navigation structure

• Loveable: Idea to app in seconds. This app casually went $0-$1m ARR in 8 days… it does code, design and app build from prompts

• Magic Patterns: Prototype your product ideas with AI. Iterate on components & designs in our AI-native editor. Export to React or Figma.

• How to get the best writing style from Claude (or any other LLM really). “Pretty & Dense” is a great way to get highly information dense replies

Remember, as a subscriber you can access the full time saving tools database for fast approaching 300 time-saving tools relevant for product managers and founders 🔥. Check the link below to access 👇️ .

🍔 Blog Bites - Essential Reads for Product Teams

Learn: From Metrics to Culture: 5 Ways to Sharpen Your Product Sense

There’s no doubt that Product Sense is a key skill for successful PMs. But but how do you refine this somewhat abstract skill amidst conflicting data, unsupportive leadership, or an over reliance on intuition? In this recent Mind The Product Article Diana Stepner explains all.

🫰 Why it Matters: Product sense is more than just gut feelings—it's a mix of data interpretation, user empathy, and strategic foresight. It helps PMs align their vision with user needs and company goals, even in the absence of clear guidance.

Design: Built for Mars UX Bites Nov - Dec

Here’s a roundup of some of the smartest and most delightful UX and product innovations spotted across industries this month from Peter Ramsey / Built for Mars. He’s a regular in this section, and for a reason.

Startups: How first-time founders fail

Funnily enough, first-time founders often fall into predictable traps that hinder their success (1st time at anything is pretty much the same TBH). While experience doesn’t guarantee triumph, analysing the failures of successful founders can reveal valuable insights.

Through lessons from the founders of Supabase, Mailgun, Teleport, and others, this article highlights many common pitfalls and how to avoid them; with great transferable relevance to Product teams in other organisations too.

🎙️ Pod Shots - Bitesized Podcast Summaries

Remember, subscribers get access to an ever growing database of all the top Podcast summaries we’ve ever created. Check it out below 👇️ 

🎮️ Discord: Scaling to 200M Users

Today’s Pod Shot dives into the recent 20VC Podcast episode featuring Jason Citron, the Co-Founder and CEO of Discord. Jason shared the untold story of how Discord scaled from a scrappy startup to a platform with over 200 million users, offering unfiltered insights into leadership, product pivots, and navigating hyper-growth.

So what’s Discord’s story?

What began as a tool for gamers has evolved into one of the most vibrant community platforms in the world. With its origins rooted in solving real user problems, Discord is now a powerhouse in gaming, social connection, and beyond. From its subreddit-driven early days to handling growth plateaus and scaling a team of 1,000, Jason’s journey is packed with lessons for every founder and product manager

🎥Watch the full episode here

📆 Published: November 27th, 2024

🕒 Estimated Reading Time: 4 mins. Time saved: 50 mins🔥

🎮 The Sandbox of Leadership: How Gaming Prepared Jason for CEO Life

Jason Citron describes gaming as more than just entertainment—it’s a sandbox for developing critical life skills. For Jason, playing games taught him resilience, teamwork, and the ability to solve problems creatively. He noted that games simulate real-life challenges in a safe, repeatable environment, providing a low-risk way to build a growth mindset.

“You fail, you reflect, you adapt, and you try again,” Jason explained. This cycle of iteration is at the heart of both gaming and entrepreneurship. Whether strategising with a team in Fortnite or figuring out the optimal resource allocation in a game like StarCraft, players develop the skills to cooperate, lead, and even follow when needed. These experiences, Jason argues, translate directly to the dynamics of leading a company.

Key Takeaways:

• Gaming fosters a growth mindset through iterative problem-solving.

• Leadership and teamwork dynamics in games mirror organisational structures.

• Resilience built through gaming helps founders overcome setbacks.

🚀 Levelling Up: The Hardest Stages of Company Building

Jason likens scaling a business to advancing through levels in a game: every level is harder than the last, and no two challenges are the same. For him, the hardest “level” was the phase when Discord grew from 200 to 1,000 employees in just two and a half years. This rapid scaling pushed Jason into unfamiliar territory, and he candidly admitted to making many management mistakes during this period.

One of the biggest lessons? Delegation doesn’t mean abdication. Jason initially relied heavily on executives to set the vision and execute without sufficient oversight, which led to bottlenecks and confusion. “I learned that it’s not just about empowering people; it’s about giving them clear direction and accountability,” he shared.

Even today, Jason faces challenges he’s never encountered before. But his confidence in his team and their shared ability to “figure it out” helps him tackle the unknowns.

Key Takeaways:

• Scaling a business requires learning to navigate new challenges at every stage.

• Delegation should include clear guidance and accountability.

• Trust in your team’s ability to solve problems together.

💡 The Birth of Discord: From a Gaming App to a Global Phenomenon

Discord’s journey started with a vision: to create a durable gaming company with a distribution advantage. But the initial execution—a mobile game called Fates Forever—fell short of expectations. Jason quickly realised that while the game had a loyal following, it wouldn’t reach venture-scale success.

Rather than giving up, Jason and his team pivoted to a group chat app for gamers in 2015. The idea was simple yet powerful: gamers needed better tools to connect. The first version of Discord wasn’t perfect, but by engaging directly with early users, Jason’s team rapidly iterated on the product. Within months, they achieved product-market fit, driven by feedback from passionate gamers who validated their vision.

The pivotal moment? A post in the Final Fantasy XIV subreddit inviting gamers to try Discord and give feedback. This grassroots approach not only brought in the first wave of users but also established a playbook for growth that Discord leveraged for months.

Key Takeaways:

• A strong vision guides product creation, but flexibility is key to success.

• Pivoting after failure can unlock unexpected opportunities.

• Engaging directly with users accelerates iteration and builds trust.

📈 Navigating Plateauing Growth: Lessons in Refinement

Scaling to 200M users wasn’t a linear journey for Discord. Growth plateaus forced Jason and his team to take a hard look at their strategy. During these periods, they realised the importance of staying true to their core gaming audience while iterating on features to enhance user experience.

Jason reflected on the challenges of expanding into broader verticals, which didn’t resonate as strongly with their community. “We realised we had to pull back and refocus on gaming,” he shared. This decision not only stabilised growth but also deepened their connection with their most loyal users.

The lesson? Scaling isn’t just about adding new features or targeting new audiences—it’s about refining what works and doubling down on your strengths.

Key Takeaways:

• Growth plateaus are an opportunity to reassess and refine your strategy.

• Focus on your core audience and their needs to drive meaningful impact.

• Expansion should be intentional and aligned with your product’s core value.

📤 Iterative Leadership: Adopting an Asynchronous Workflow

To improve efficiency and reduce meeting fatigue, Jason adopted asynchronous workflows at Discord. By replacing large, synchronous meetings with video recordings for feedback and updates, he drastically cut coordination costs and improved decision-making clarity.

Teams now create short Loom videos to present ideas and progress, which Jason reviews on his own time. This process allows him to give thoughtful feedback without the pressure of real-time discussions. “It’s been transformative,” Jason shared, highlighting how this approach has freed up time for deeper, more impactful work.

Key Takeaways:

• Asynchronous communication saves time and enhances clarity.

• Public archives of feedback foster transparency and cross-team learning.

• Use synchronous meetings only for creative brainstorming or critical debates.

🔮 The Future of Gaming and AI: A Vision for 2030

Looking ahead, Jason envisions a world where AI revolutionises game development. By lowering the cost of creating high-quality games, AI will empower smaller teams and individual creators to build ambitious projects. This democratisation of game development could lead to an explosion of niche, highly personalised games.

However, Jason also acknowledged the challenges of discovery in an increasingly crowded market. He believes subscription-based models and innovative distribution strategies will play a key role in navigating this landscape.

Key Takeaways:

• AI will unlock unprecedented creativity and accessibility in game development.

• Discovery challenges will require tailored solutions and innovative strategies.

• Subscription models may gain prominence as gaming becomes more personalised.

🎯 Final Thoughts: Leadership, Intuition, and the Road Ahead

Jason’s journey with Discord is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and a clear vision. From his gaming roots to scaling a company that serves millions, his story has great read-across to other sectors.

One of his most profound reflections? Trust your intuition, but don’t ignore the context. Jason learned the hard way that balancing expertise with firsthand knowledge of your company’s unique challenges is critical. Whether it’s deciding when to delegate or when to pivot, the ability to navigate ambiguity is what sets great leaders apart.

What’s next for Discord? Jason’s focus remains on creating incredible products and empowering communities. “At the end of the day, it’s about solving problems for people and having fun doing it,” he said.

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience and adaptability are at the core of successful leadership.

• Balance intuition with a deep understanding of your company’s context.

• Stay focused on your mission, even as you explore new opportunities.

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

📅Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Management Mistakes at Discord

• 00:00:34 - The Connection Between Gaming and CEO Skills

• 00:01:03 - Learning Through Gaming

• 00:02:18 - Challenges of Scaling a Company

• 00:03:19 - Confidence in Problem-Solving

• 00:04:18 - The Impact of Financial Cushion on Founders

• 00:05:07 - Second-Time Founders and Product Market Fit

• 00:05:46 - Initial Thesis for Discord

• 00:06:22 - Early Investor Rejections

• 00:07:32 - Product Market Fit Journey

• 00:08:06 - The Myth of "Build It and They Will Come"

• 00:09:10 - Unlocking Growth Through Community Feedback

• 00:10:28 - Dealing with Growth Plateaus

• 00:11:20 - Reflections on Expansion During COVID

• 00:12:20 - Scaling from 200 to 1000 Employees

• 00:13:46 - Realizations About Management Practices

• 00:14:05 - Shifting from Manager Mode to Founder Mode

• 00:14:38 - Approaching Delegation Today

• 00:16:12 - Creating Ownership in a Directive Environment

• 00:17:33 - Managing Direct Reports Effectively

• 00:18:52 - Async Feedback vs. In-Person Meetings

• 00:19:52 - When Meetings Are Necessary

• 00:21:08 - Injecting Chaos vs. Creating Structure

• 00:21:39 - Resource Allocation and Problem Selection

• 00:22:30 - Lessons from Executive Mishires

• 00:25:04 - Integrating New Executives

• 00:25:51 - Trusting Intuition in Leadership Decisions

• 00:27:16 - Learning from Past Mistakes

• 00:28:15 - The Role of Politics in the Workplace

• 00:41:08 - Fundraising Success and Lessons Learned

• 00:42:19 - Choosing Investors Wisely

• 00:43:13 - The Rockstar Games Experience

• 00:45:40 - The Future of Private Companies

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 🍽️.