Ship a Product from 0 to 1 as PM
16 weeks · 3 milestones
Take a product from idea to public launch with measurable user adoption.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
A product does not exist until engineering agrees to build it. The PM's job in the pre-build phase is to do three things in the right order: first, confirm the problem is real through user evidence (not assumption); second, write a spec that translates the validated problem into a buildable solution; third, achieve formal engineering alignment on what will be built and when. Skipping user validation and going straight to a spec produces a solution to a problem that may not exist.
Proof required
Submit: (1) user research evidence: at least 5 user interviews or conversations with documented key insights — date, participant description, 2–3 specific verbatim quotes per participant, and the core insight extracted; (2) a product spec of at least 500 words covering: problem statement with evidence, proposed solution, success metrics, scope (in/out of scope), and engineering requirements; (3) evidence of engineering alignment — a written reply from an engineering team member confirming they have reviewed and will build this spec, or meeting notes documenting the engineering team's commitment.
What gets checked
- User research evidence must include specific verbatim quotes — paraphrased summaries do not satisfy the research documentation standard; the quotes must come from real people, with participant descriptions that confirm they are in the target user group
- Spec includes success metrics that are specific and measurable before any user adopts the product — 'users will love it' is not a metric; 'daily active users ≥ 50 within 30 days of launch' is
- Engineering alignment is documented, not assumed — the spec sitting in a Google Doc is not alignment; a written confirmation or meeting record showing the engineering team reviewed and agreed to build it is
Resources
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First Round Review — Product Management
Go further: case studies in user research methodology and engineering partnership for early-stage product decisions.
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