Prodity: Product by Design

In this episode, I sit down with Varag Gharibjanian, the founding partner of Actuate, a boutique advisory firm. Varag shares his personal journey from an engineering background to pioneering in business strategy and technology partnerships, especially within AR/VR spaces. We delve into his early career challenges, significant milestones at major tech companies, and the lessons learned from merging technology with business. Varag also discusses the current trends in XR and AI technologies, providing insights into future developments. If you're interested in business strategy, the future of technology, or growing a business, you won't want to miss this discussion.

Varag Gharibjanian

Varag Gharibjanian is a visionary leader known for his ability to drive growth through innovative strategies, disruptive technologies, and transformative deals. With a clear purpose of leaving the world better than he found it, Varag is passionate about bridging business opportunities with technology to create tech-enabled products that make a meaningful impact.

Over the last 10+ years, Varag has dedicated himself to untangling the knots and bottlenecks faced by enterprise and start-up technology companies. Drawing upon his expertise, he has assembled a team of unique strategists, operators, and technologists who share his vision of helping companies grow through better strategy and powerful deep technologies, including AI, AR, VR, hardware, semi, wireless, mobile, and IoT.

Links from the Show:
Links: actuatetech.io

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Video has become ubiquitous in our communication. From virtual meetings and virtual doctor visits, to social media, virtual events, and live commerce, we expect video everywhere. But the technology that makes this happen isn’t easy, and needs and expectations are changing rapidly. So what does the future hold for our virtual communications? How have we solved these challenges in the past and how will we continue to solve them? How do we think about the UX of virtual communication and video? What should you do if you want to get into design and what communities should you join or create? We explore these questions and many others in this episode.

Pete Hawkes:
I’m a designer and developer, tinkerer and mentor, with a passion for human-centered design and development. I have built next generation interfaces and experiences at the intersection both the digital and physical. I have contributed to patents in gestural and spatial design, developed remote collaboration prototypes and products to define new modes of work, and led cross-functional teams to envision and implement large-scale, immersive environments for fortune 500 companies including IBM, Lockheed Martin, and McKinsey. Storytelling and iteration are central to my work and process. I leverage narrative and prototyping at scale to align contributors and stakeholders around a shared vision and to connect and motivate the individuals and teams I work with.

Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Petehawkes.com, Peterhawkes.com

Books: So Anyway, Something Incredibly Wonderful Happens

Links: Swiss Army Knife, Daily.co

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In this episode, host Kyle Evans interviews Vikram Chalana, the founder behind Pictory, an innovative AI video creation tool for content marketers. With a deep background in technology and entrepreneurship, Chalana shares his journey from building a startup in his garage to leading a groundbreaking AI venture. Together, we delve into the evolution of content creation, emphasizing the shift towards video and the role of AI in enhancing productivity and storytelling, including Pictory's mission to democratize video creation, allowing professionals across various fields to craft compelling narratives without the need for complex tools. We also discuss the broader implications of AI in business and society, including the challenges and opportunities it presents.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, or tech enthusiast, this episode provides valuable insights into the intersection of AI, content creation, and business strategy.

Vikram Chalana

Vikram Chalana is a visionary entrepreneur and trailblazer in the world of AI-driven content creation. As the CEO of Pictory, Vikram leads a team dedicated to revolutionizing the way we generate video and social content. With Pictory’s groundbreaking AI technology, long-form content, such as blogs and webinars, undergoes a miraculous transformation into a month’s worth of engaging visual and social media content – all accomplished in a matter of minutes.

Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Vikram Chalana

Books: Crossing the Chasm
Podcast: This American Life

Links: Pictory.ai - Use code Podcast25

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In this episode, Kyle interviews Suman Kanuganti, co-founder and CEO of Personal.ai. Suman discusses his journey from an engineer with a robotics background to launching innovative ventures like Aira, assisting visually impaired individuals, and Personal AI, aimed at extending cognitive abilities through AI. The conversation explores the technology behind Personal.ai, its unique approach to personalizing user experiences, and the importance of data privacy. Suman also shares his insights on entrepreneurship in the AI space and the ethical considerations of AI development.

Suman Kanuganti:
Two-time venture-backed entrepreneur, AI enthusiast, and accessibility champion awarded Forbes 40 Under 40 and Smithsonian’s Top Innovator to Watch awards Suman Kanuganti is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Personal.ai.

Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Linkedin

Books: Sapiens

Links: s.personal.ai

TV: Painkiller, Altered Carbon

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In this episode, Ryan Glasgow, the founder and CEO of Sprig, shares his insights on product management and the impact of AI. He and Kyle discuss his background in product management and his experience scaling companies like Weebly and Vurb from startup to successful exit. Ryan also explains the importance of product market fit and how to determine if a product is meeting customer needs. We also explore the concept of feature market fit and the role of AI in analyzing user data. Ryan provides advice for aspiring founders and product managers and shares his recommendations for interesting podcasts and products.

Takeaways

Put in the time and gain experience in product management before starting a company.
Product market fit is determined by how disappointed customers would be if the product no longer existed.
Feature market fit is about understanding the importance of specific features to users, even if they are infrequently used.
AI is revolutionizing product management by providing insights and analysis at scale.
Consider using AI to analyze user data and gain deeper understanding of the product experience.
Founders should focus on building enduring businesses and not just raising seed funding.
Google Bard is an AI tool that has shown promise in providing accurate and real-time responses. OpenAI requires advanced prompt engineering and custom instructions, while Google provides more basic prompts and easier responses.
Google's approach to product management focuses on polished consumer-grade experiences, while OpenAI's models require more hand-holding.
The ease of use of AI models is becoming more apparent in Google's offerings, potentially impacting user preferences.
The future outlook involves observing the race between OpenAI and Google in terms of mainstream adoption and product development.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
03:28 Getting into Product Management
06:09 Starting as a Product Manager at Early Companies
11:32 The Process of Patenting
16:27 Understanding Product Market Fit
20:03 The Importance of Feature Market Fit
28:01 The Impact of AI on Product Management
31:02 Incorporating AI into Product Insights
42:24 Advice for Founding a Company
47:18 Advice for Product Managers
49:05 Interesting Recommendations
50:12 Product Recommendations
51:11 Comparison between OpenAI and Google
52:42 Ease of Use and Product Management
53:29 Conclusion and Future Outlook

Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanglasgow/

Books: Competing Against Luck, Amp It Up

Website: https://sprig.com/

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Welcome to another episode of Prodity: Product by Design with your host, Kyle. In this insightful episode, we're joined by Hubert Palan, founder and CEO of Product Board, to explore the evolving landscape of product management and its impact on the tech industry. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of product management, the importance of gaining a deep understanding of customers, and leveraging AI and other tools to amplify your impact. Join us for an incredibly insightful discussion as we dive deep into product management and design!

Hubert Palan Bio:
Hubert Palan is the founder and CEO of ProductBoard, a company focused on product management. He was previously the VP of product management at GoodData. Palan holds a master's degree in computer science from Czech Technical University in Prague and an MBA in entrepreneurship from UC Berkeley.

Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hubertpalan/

Books: Outlive

Website: Productboard.com
Links: Lex Fridman Podcast

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In this episode, Kyle interviews Vidya, founder of Product Rebels, who shares her experience in coaching product teams and transforming organizations. We explore the importance of understanding the customer problem and achieving product-market fit. We also discuss the challenges of pricing and the characteristics of successful product teams.

Additionally, Vidya shares advice for those interested in getting into product or starting a company. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity, understanding human behavior, and having the desire to learn and ask questions. Vidya also highlights the fun and end-to-end perspective of working in product. For those considering starting a company, she suggests looking for unmet needs and pain points that can be solved. Additionally, she highlights her work in investing in female founders and startups and the importance of diversity early on.

Takeaways

• Focus on understanding the customer problem and achieving product-market fit.
• Consider the pricing model that aligns with the customer's willingness to pay.
• Build a strong product team with a customer-centric mindset and effective communication skills.
• Invest in female founders and startups to address implicit biases and promote diversity. Curiosity, understanding human behavior, and the desire to learn are important qualities for those interested in getting into product.
• Working in product offers a fun and end-to-end perspective on the growth of a company.
• When starting a company, look for unmet needs and pain points that can be solved.
• AI and video are fascinating areas to explore and experiment with.

Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vdinamani

Books: https://www.amazon.com/Groundwork-Get-Better-Making-Products/dp/0578776324

Links: https://podcasts.apple.com/sk/podcast/product-rebels/id1663094377

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From the early days of AI and AI assistants, Kevin has spent his career building technology and companies. With his experience at General Magic paving the way for OnStar, Siri, and Alexa, to modern applications of AI, we discuss Nobel prize winning auction theory, biometric cybersecurity, and AI driven software testing, along with lessons learned and what is coming next.

In this episode, we explore AI tools that amplify productivity today, from coding to finding bugs in software, and how these tools will become as intertwined in our lives as computers or the internet. We also discuss becoming an expert in a field and applying expertise from one field into other areas of your life, whether in business or personal, like music or theater.

Kevin Surace
Kevin is a Silicon Valley innovator, serial entrepreneur, CEO, TV personality and EDUTAINER. He has been featured by Businessweek, Time, Fortune, Forbes, CNN, ABC,MSNBC,FOXNews,and has keynoted hundreds of events,from INC5000 to TED to the US Congress. He was INC Magazines’ Entrepreneur of the Year, a CNBC top Innovator of the Decade, World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer, Chair of Silicon Valley

Forum, Planet Forward Innovator of the Year nominee, featured for 5 years on TechTV’s Silicon Spin, and inducted into RIT’s Innovation Hall of Fame. Mr. Surace led pioneering work on the first cellular data smartphone (AirCommunicator), the first plastic multi-chip semiconductor packages, the first human-like AI virtual assistant (Portico), soundproof drywall, high R-value windows, AI-driven building management technology, Generative AI for QA, supply-chain multivariate auctions, and the window/energy retrofits of the Empire State Building

and NY Stock Exchange. He is also an accomplished music director, conductor, Broadway and streaming producer,and percussionist.

Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Kevin Surace

Books: Impromptu

Links: 1660vine, Adcreative.ai

Companies: Appvance.ai, Tokenring

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Felix is an art director and former competitive skier. In this episode, we discuss creating a brand voice and effectively communicating with your audience. This often means embracing new ways of engaging with your audience and meeting customers where they are, which can be difficult for big companies. We talk about companies who do branding and advertising well, and those who do not, and what you can do to reach customers effectively. We also explore the psychology of advertising and the importance of empathy.

Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Felix Lundqvist

Books: This is not my memoir

Shows: Black Mirror, I know this much is true

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In this episode, Kyle interviews Shirish Nadkarni, a serial entrepreneur and author. We talk about his early experience as a product manager at Microsoft, and his work on the acquisition of Hotmail, which inspired him to eventually start his own company. We discuss the companies Shirish founded, Livemocha and TeamOn Systems, and the lessons he learned from each of those.

We also discuss his latest book, Winner Takes All, and the history of digital marketplaces as well as what we can learn from the largest marketplaces in the world. And how to compete against monopolies and regulate monopolies like TicketMaster and Amazon. You won’t want to miss this amazing discussion.

Shirish Nadkarni

Shirish Nadkarni is a serial entrepreneur with proven success in creating multiple consumer businesses that have scaled to tens of millions of users worldwide. Shirish was the co-founder of Livemocha, the world’s largest language learning site with 15+ million registered members from over 200 countries. Livemocha was acquired by RosettaStone in 2013. Prior to Livemocha, Shirish was the founder of TeamOn Systems, a mobile wireless email pioneer that was acquired by BlackBerry in 2002. The TeamOn technology served as the core foundation for Blackberry Internet E-mail which serviced over 50 million BlackBerry users. Shirish started his career at Microsoft where engineered the acquisition of Hotmail and launched MSN.Com which became a leading web portal in the early days of the internet.

Shirish received his MBA from Harvard Business School and a BSE in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan. He serves on the board of TiE Seattle where he chairs a number of programs including the GoVertical Startup Creation Workshop, the TiE Entrepreneur Institute and the Z5 Catalyst funding initiative.

Links from the Show:
LinkedIn: Shirish Nadkarni
Book: Winner Takes All: How Online Marketplaces Are Creating Modern Monopolies

Links: ShirishNadkarni.com

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