Product Strategy & Thinking
Turn ideas into clarity. Define your product's value, validate it with real users, and design for growth without wasting time or budget.
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Build fast. Launch smart. Scale up.
I help founders make better product decisions and build with clarity. 18 years of experience, now shared with you.
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Where I can help
MVP Strategy & Validation
Figure out what to build, what to cut, and how to validate fast. Walk away with a clear roadmap and the confidence to ship your first version without over-engineering.
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AI Product Thinking
Identify where AI adds real value and where it's just hype. Map out how to integrate intelligence into your product without over-complicating your stack.
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Where I've built
Bucket.io
From Idea to 7-Figure Exit
Founding product lead. Helped turn a marketing tool idea into a SaaS used by thousands, grew it to seven figures, and saw it through to a successful exit.
Qrvey
Building an 80+ Person Product Team
Early team member. Built design and product from scratch, scaled the team from 0 to 80+, and helped grow this data analytics SaaS to 8 figures.
Mashable
Transforming a Media Giant's UX
Worked with Mashable's internal team to rethink platform UX and performance. Shipped a redesign that scaled to millions of readers.
PeopleHR
Simplifying HR, Amplifying Growth
Joined PeopleHR to modernize their legacy platform. Redesigned the UX to be cleaner and faster, contributing to a 7-figure exit.
AskMethod
Leading Multi-Product Development
Digital Product Lead. Managed design and engineering across multiple SaaS products, built team workflows, and improved product cohesion company-wide.
Benchmark
Modernizing a Legacy Platform
Joined Benchmark Email to modernize their legacy platform. Redesigned workflows based on customer research, balancing user needs with technical constraints.
How I think about building
I spend time with founders thinking through product decisions, not executing them. My job is to help you see what I've seen, avoid what I've learned to avoid, and build with more confidence.
I'm not here to build for you. I'm here to help you build better.
Design Thinking
18 years creating interfaces that users actually want to use. I know what works and what wastes time.
Engineering Judgment
I've built prototypes, scaled products, and integrated AI. I know what's possible, what's practical, and what's premature.
Team Building
I've hired and scaled teams from 0 to 80+. I can help you think through hiring, culture, and how to structure for growth.
Founder Experience
5x founder who's built products that made money and products that failed. I know what both feel like.
Articles
Ideas, frameworks, and stories from 18 years of building. Lessons I learned the hard way, shared so you don't have to.
AI
Why AI Initiatives Fail (And How to Fix Them)
42% of companies scrapped their AI initiatives in 2025. Not because AI doesn’t work. Because they built solutions to problems that didn’t …
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Software
The Lean MVP Playbook for Technical Founders
Most MVPs fail not because the idea is bad, but because founders build the wrong thing, take too long, or run out of money before finding …
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AI
AI Pod Playbook: Building Products Without Hiring
I’ve been building teams for 15 years. I’ve helped companies hire over 500 developers and designers. And right now, I’m watching …
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Software
Building Your First Product Team: A Founder's Guide
The hardest part of building a product isn’t writing code. It’s building the team that writes the code. After helping 500+ developers and …
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Design
Dribbble Broke UX Design
More flows, less coats of paint.
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Thoughts
Be Mindful of Whose Advice You Take
Trusth those who have walked the path, not those who sell you hard on a promise.
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About me
I'm Max, a software engineer, designer, and 5x founder. For 18 years, I've been building products, teams, and companies from scratch. I've also hired over 500 developers and designers into high-growth startups, so I've seen what works and what breaks.
I care about design that makes sense, code that scales, and founders who ship. Today I spend my time building my own products and advising founders who are building theirs. Helping them think better, decide faster, and avoid expensive mistakes.
Max
Software Engineer, Designer, Serial Founder
