Tejumola Akinwande, CCSS’ Post

7 Lessons from Launching an MVP That Hit Hard and Fast 💥 Launching an MVP isn’t just about shipping a product—it’s a reality check that reveals what really matters. Here’s what I’ve learned from building Calk with 18 beta testers across industries. These are the hard-hitting insights for any founder diving into product development: - Give First—Content and Advice Are Your Best Assets Before expecting anything in return, focus on delivering value. Share insights, provide guidance, and build a foundation of trust with your audience. Feedback flows more freely when people see you’re genuinely invested in helping them. - You Think You See the Whole Picture, But You Don’t When you’re immersed in product development, you become laser-focused, and it’s easy to miss the bigger picture. Step back, listen, and keep your vision adaptable. - Complexity Creeps In—Keep It Simple and listen to feedback We tend to overcomplicate things, adding unnecessary layers and features. Keep it lean and focused. The simplest version of your idea is often the most effective. - Two Types of People: Supporters and Skeptics Some people genuinely want to help you succeed, while others are waiting to see if your product becomes “worth it.” Both groups are essential—embrace the support and let the skeptics keep you sharp. - Speed is Non-Negotiable Get it out there. An MVP needs to be in users' hands, not sitting in development purgatory. Iterate quickly and let real-world use refine your product. - Humility Makes You a Better Builder Learning from anyone, anywhere, at any time is crucial. Every interaction is an opportunity to improve, and humility lets you see value in every perspective. - Your First Users Are Partners, Not Just Testers Early adopters are more than users—they’re part of the journey. Their feedback shapes the product, and their engagement builds momentum. Building Calk has been humbling, challenging, and exhilarating. These lessons have reshaped our approach and strengthened our vision every step of the way. 🚀 👉 What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from launching something new? #MVP #ProductDevelopment #StartupJourney #LessonsLearned #Innovation

Hey LinkedIn! (Heads up—long post ahead!) As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve joined Co.Lab 🚀 joincolab.io, a bootcamp where I’m stepping into the Product Manager role, working with an amazing group of developers and designers to bring a new product to life. 💡 We’ve been focusing on ideation, validating our problem space through user research, and creating an MVP! This week, we hit a little bump in the road, and I thought it would be helpful to share, as it’s something I think can be relatable in any field. At the start of the program, my team and I identified a problem in the gifting space and developed a product idea we thought was super niche. Initially, we couldn’t find anything quite like it, so I felt super passionate about what we were building. 🎉 However, during some deeper market research for our upcoming Mid-Point demo, I discovered two products from 2019 and 2020 solving the same issue!! One of them even just secured $32M in seed funding! 😭 😭 😭 Naturally, I felt a bit defeated, thinking our idea wasn’t as groundbreaking and innovative as we thought. But after reflecting with friends and family, I realized this discovery actually confirmed we’re on the right path. Almost every successful idea has a direct competitor: Lyft vs. Uber, Afterpay vs. Klarna, Airbnb vs. VRBO. Our challenge now is to figure out how we differentiate. It’s not the end—it’s the start of an exciting journey. We now have something to compare ourselves to, and this gives us a chance to focus on making our product stand out. Competition pushes us to think more strategically and pinpoint what makes our solution unique in the gifting space. (I even get to put my Branding hat on a little here!) Just a reminder that when you’re feeling defeated, sometimes all you need is a quick breather 😤 and a shift in mindset to discover an even more exciting path forward. Pivoting and redirecting has been a huge part of this process, and it's been a great lesson I’ll continue to take with me in both work and life! #innovation #product #problemsolving #redirection #grit

Day 1 of PM School's "The PM Run", a 15-day challenge for people passionate about learning and growing .🌟 Tackle daily quizzes, deepen your PM knowledge, and impress your boss. The top winner gets bragging rights, valuable skills, and prizes worth Rs. 50,000💲 Participate in the challenge now❗ 📌 Answer questions daily for 15 days 📌 Put your answers in the comment and tag PM SCHOOL. 📌 At the end of the 15th day we’ll put up a leaderboard announcing the winners. 📌 Top 5 winners get a price worth Rs. 50,000 and a shout out from us. Don't miss out on the opportunity to level up your PM game! Visit the PM School website to join "The PM Run" and explore other exciting challenges. 🌐 Link - https://pmschool.io/pm-run #productchallenge #productmanagement #pmschool #productmanager #hiring #tech #pm #b2c #b2b #fintech #startup #PMrun #15dayschallenge #PMRun15 #productchallenge

Day 1 : No, I am not posting from Big Boss house. 😅 I’m excited to announce that I’m participating in the PM Hackathon by Product Space, and working on product creation to enhance user experience & satisfaction during the coldplay concert, optimize operations and revenue for uber and at the same time propose some benchmarking partnerships for seamless transportation during the event. I was looking for some group contest for quite a long time and this hackathon couldn't have come at a better time for me. 🤞 I am delighted to be a part of it as such contests are a unique blend of learning, networking, and personal development opportunities. 🥸 They serve as platforms to push my boundaries, explore new ideas, and connect with a vibrant community of innovators. It is a great problem statement as I believe the solutions for it can bring out something sustainable for Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities which faces a huge problem of traffic and fuel wastage as a result of it. It can even drive many partnerships for longer run paving the way to solve bigger problems. 🫠 I am hoping to hone my market research and ideation skills during this 1 week time. I feel very excited to be set on this 1 week journey where there will be a lot of brainstorming, research work, juggling around the work but the fact that this journey will give bring so many new learnings for me and that I will be coming out with solutions at the end is keeping my spirits high. 💡 Fun fact: I have never been to a concert but I know well the feeling of being stuck in the traffic and missing out on super important things. [In my case flight 😅 ] I will be on this journey with my co-pilot Nishant Singh Join me on this 7-day journey as I tackle this challenge using real PM frameworks and methodologies! Follow me to explore this journey of solving live product management project. Let’s dive in! #PMHackathon #7DayStreak #ProductManagemen #Uber #Coldplay Thanks to our mentors Akhil Yash Tiwari Pamit D Anand Subhasis Chandra for all their hardwork and the good great opportunity that they have pulled together for us.

Success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s about showing up every day, learning new skills, and continuously improving. Whether you’re coding, managing projects, or working on product development, small, daily actions add up to big achievements over time. 🚀 How to Apply This: 👉Start with small goals and build from there. Break down big projects into manageable tasks. 👉Keep learning! Stay curious and explore new technologies that can improve your workflow. 👉Don’t be afraid to fail. Innovation often comes from mistakes that lead to breakthroughs. At Jamor Technology, we believe in creating an environment where ideas can thrive and grow. Follow JamorTech for more tech tips! #TechTips #Innovation #GrowthMindset #JamorTech

🎯 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆? HelloPM'𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄! As someone deeply rooted in backend engineering, I've always been fascinated by how a product comes to life. That's why I joined the 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗯𝘆 HelloPM, taught by the incredible Ankit Shukla. 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: 𝚄𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚝 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝚝𝚜 𝟹𝙳 𝙵𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? In the startup world, we often wear multiple hats. Understanding product management not only bridges the gap between development and user experience but also equips us with the skills to drive innovation and efficiency. The 3D Framework: 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 1️⃣ 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿: ✅Identify user pain points and market opportunities. ✅Utilize tools like Hotjar, PostHog, Typeform, and Mixpanel for user research and feedback. 2️⃣ 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲: ✅Clearly outline product vision, roadmap and prioritization of features. ✅Leverage Confluence, Notion, Whimsical, Figma, Trello, and Jira for detailed planning and documentation. 3️⃣ 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿: ✅Execute the product plan with precision and proper planning. ✅Employ Mixpanel, Optimize, CleverTap, and Jira to track progress and optimize the product post-launch. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗴𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗻𝗮 We delved into the early challenges faced by Swiggy and Apna (a hiring platform), learning how they identified and tackled key problems. These real-world examples highlighted the importance of agile product management in adapting to market needs. 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 For me, the biggest takeaway is how product management plays a crucial role in a startup. It seamlessly connects technical execution with user-centric design, ensuring that what we build truly resonates with our users. 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱! This bootcamp has already reshaped my understanding of product development. I’m eager to dive deeper and apply these insights to create impactful products. Stay tuned for more updates! 🌐

🎉 Big Milestone: 66k MAU,, 2 months! 🎉 I’m genuinely thrilled to share this milestone. As project manager on our latest game launch, I had the privilege of working with an amazing team to make it happen. 🚀 Our Goal: Make It Matter We wanted to create something that wasn’t just funbut really resonated with people. The goal was clear: build something engaging, smooth, and worth coming back to every day. 🌟 The Results: Beyond Expectations 400,000 users in the first two months 🚀 3,000 people logging in daily! Seeing those numbers roll in has been unreal. Knowing that people are genuinely enjoying what we’ve built? That’s what it’s all about. 👥 Team Effort All the Way This wouldn’t have been possible without our fantastic team: Design nailed the look and feel, making it intuitive and enjoyable Marketing got people excited and kept them engaged Tech made it all work seamlessly, no matter how much traffic came our way This milestone is one of those moments that reminds you why you love what you do. Here’s to many more! What big wins are you celebrating this month? 🎯 #Milestone #ProductLaunch #TeamSuccess #UserGrowth #ProjectManagement #TechLaunch #ProductDesign #MarketingWins #StartupLife #Teamwork

Running a show sometimes feels a lot like building with code or today’s time we can say #NoCode , you start with a blank screen, big dreams, and a roadmap that you know will change. Nothing is flawless on the first try, and that’s the point. It’s a process of continuous iteration. What I’ve learned along the way: 1. Version 1.0 is just the beginning: Don’t wait for perfection. Get started, launch, learn, unlearn and refine. The best ideas grow through feedback and action. 2. Troubleshooting and optimizing are part of the game: Setbacks are just part of the build. Whether it’s fixing bugs in your system or adjusting your strategy, it’s these challenges that ultimately sharpen your vision. 3. Adaptation drives progress: Growth isn’t a straight line. Just like updating software, your business will need pivots and tweaks. Staying agile is how you move forward—it’s how you innovate. The journey isn’t about getting it all right from day one—it’s about constantly building, refining, and pushing toward your vision. Every new version brings us closer to something bigger. I would like thank my entire team at WeAddo and wellwishers who are helping us to take it to the next level. #MarTechEngineers #InnovationInAction #Journey #BuildToGrow #AdaptAndIterate #VisionInMotion #ComingSoon

Join PM School's "The PM Run", a 15-day challenge for people passionate about planning and execution.🌟 Tackle daily quizzes, deepen your PM knowledge, and impress your boss. The top winner gets bragging rights, valuable skills, and prizes worth Rs. 50,000💲 Participate in the challenge now❗ 📌 Answer questions daily for 15 days 📌 Put your answers in the comment and tag PM SCHOOL. 📌 We’ll put up a leaderboard announcing the winners after the completion of the challenge. 📌 Top 5 winners get a price worth Rs. 50,000 and a shout out from us. Don't miss out on the opportunity to level up your PM game! Visit the PM School website to join "The PM Run" and explore other exciting challenges. 🌐 Link - https://pmschool.io/pm-run #productchallenge #productmanagement #pmschool #productmanager #hiring #tech #pm #b2c #b2b #fintech #startup #PMrun #15dayschallenge #PMRun15 #productchallenge

Join PM School's "The PM Run", a 15-day challenge for people passionate about planning and execution.🌟 Tackle daily quizzes, deepen your PM knowledge, and impress your boss. The top winner gets bragging rights, valuable skills, and prizes worth  Rs. 50,000💲 Participate in the challenge now❗ 📌 Answer questions daily for 15 days 📌 Put your answers in the comment and tag PM SCHOOL. 📌 We’ll put up a leaderboard announcing the winners after the completion of the challenge. 📌 Top 5 winners get a price worth Rs. 50,000 and a shout out from us. Don't miss out on the opportunity to level up your PM game! Visit the PM School website to join "The PM Run" and explore other exciting challenges. 🌐Link - https://pmschool.io/pm-run #productchallenge #productmanagement #pmschool #productmanager #hiring #tech #pm #b2c #b2b #fintech #startup #PMrun #15dayschallenge #PMRun15 #productchallenge