The Inside Story: TurboTax PersonalPro's Initial Failure

In November 2014, Brian Crofts prepared for a crucial meeting with two top-level executives at Intuit. One was CeCe Morken, his boss, overseeing Intuit’s Professional Tax (ProTax) business—a $422 million enterprise selling tax preparation software to accountants. The other was Sasan Goodarzi, in charge of Intuit’s $1.8 billion TurboTax division, providing software directly to consumers. Crofts had spent three years developing a new product, TurboTax PersonalPro, bridging the gap between these two business lines. Company leadership had decided it was time for a major launch, making the November meeting pivotal for finalizing a go-to-market plan. However, not all launches yield exponential growth. Discover the untold story behind the scenes of the turbulent rollout of TurboTax PersonalPro, leading to its initial setback. This podcast is brought to you by: Go to http://porkbun.com/RocketshipFM24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! Miro: Go to Miro.com/podcast and get your first three Miro boards free forever. Hubspot: Listen to The Science of Scaling wherever you get your podcasts. Leadpages: The Easiest Way to Grow Your Sales. Check out their landing page templates today. Rocketship is brought to you by The Podglomerate. This show is a part of the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter for more information about our shows, launches, and events. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy.  Since you're listening to Rocketship, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows surrounding entrepreneurship, business, and careers like Creative Elements and Freelance to Founder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You will be treated to the fascinating beginnings of Pendo, a product experience platform company now valued at over two and a half billion dollars. We'll highlight Pendo's growth from an initial sponsor to a prominent supporter of product conferences. Todd Olson, Pendo's CEO, joins to recount his journey prior to Pendo at Rally Software and the subsequent challenges that inspired the creation of Pendo. Todd delves into the significance of the close-knit founding team and their collective decision to secure funding to capitalize on the perceived urgency of the business opportunity. We'll also reflect on Pendo's pivot from an attempted viral strategy to a focus on larger companies and the inclusion of sales, a move that significantly streamlined the company's growth trajectory. Speaker C also addresses Pendo's cultural constants despite a decade of transformation; the company's core values—such as work-life balance and a bias to act—remain as pivotal to Pendo's identity as they were at its inception. Looking ahead, we discuss Pendo's application of AI technology, assisting traditional businesses in becoming more product centric, and international expansion. Todd Olson closes the episode with a piece of seasoned advice for other entrepreneurs: Success comes from thoroughly solving a profound problem. This podcast is brought to you by: Go to http://porkbun.com/RocketshipFM24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! Miro: Go to Miro.com/podcast and get your first three Miro boards free forever. Hubspot: Listen to The Science of Scaling wherever you get your podcasts. Leadpages: The Easiest Way to Grow Your Sales. Check out their landing page templates today. Rocketship is brought to you by The Podglomerate. This show is a part of the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter for more information about our shows, launches, and events. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy.  Since you're listening to Rocketship, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows surrounding entrepreneurship, business, and careers like Creative Elements and Freelance to Founder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Rocketship.fm, hosts Michael Sacca and Mike Belsito take listeners through an in-depth examination of the pivotal business concept known as product market fit. They begin by acknowledging that, despite frequently using the term, they haven't fully dissected its meaning in previous episodes. They outline the importance of product market fit, describing it as a critical transition point that can propel a startup from uncertainty to being a market leader or at least demonstrating market alignment. They emphasize how this fit can indicate a growing customer base and stronger ties between the product and its users, and discuss the continuous process of iterating a product based on customer feedback and evolving market demands. Throughout the episode, we'll dissect the idea of product market fit, explaining it as a kind of complex puzzle where each piece represents an aspect of the product's journey towards market acceptance. They identify the key components of achieving product market fit: a quality product that aligns with market demands, its relevance and affordability to the target audience's needs, and a good market actively seeking the product's solutions. The hosts highlight the importance of customer feedback, describing how it should be actively sought, received, and used - not to immediately fulfill every customer's request, but to genuinely listen, interpret needs, and then create a comprehensive solution. They underscore that achieving product market fit is not a one-time event but a continuous process that involves constant adaption and refinement. Finally, we'll share insights on common metrics used to measure product market fit, such as customer retention rates and net promoter scores, while pointing out the necessity of customizing these metrics to fit the unique context of a product and its market. They also touch upon challenges faced in the quest for product market fit, using stories and clips from notable figures like Peter Reinart from Segment and the late Clayton Christensen. These anecdotes highlight the real-world struggles and breakthroughs companies encounter as they shift from pushing their product to a market that's not responding, to being in demand by the market itself—underscoring the episode’s key takeaway of what finding product market fit truly entails. This podcast is brought to you by: Go to http://porkbun.com/RocketshipFM24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! Miro: Go to Miro.com/podcast and get your first three Miro boards free forever. Hubspot: Listen to The Science of Scaling wherever you get your podcasts. Gigantic: Learn more about Gigantic's Product Leadership course, Generative AI, Product Management course, Executive Leadership course & Web3 for Marketing course, AI Product Management Course, and Customer Research and Discovery Course at Gigantic.is Leadpages: The Easiest Way to Grow Your Sales. Check out their landing page templates today. Rocketship is brought to you by The Podglomerate. This show is a part of the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter for more information about our shows, launches, and events. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy.  Since you're listening to Rocketship, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows surrounding entrepreneurship, business, and careers like Creative Elements and Freelance to Founder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you keeping up with the TikTok saga? The tides are shifting yet again, and this time the app faces a significant crossroad in the United States. Join us on the latest episode of Rocketship.fm as we delve into the complexities surrounding TikTok's potential ban and what it could mean for the tech industry and beyond. This podcast is brought to you by: Go to http://porkbun.com/RocketshipFM24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! Miro: Go to Miro.com/podcast and get your first three Miro boards free forever. Hubspot: Listen to The Science of Scaling wherever you get your podcasts. Gigantic: Learn more about Gigantic's Product Leadership course, Generative AI, Product Management course, Executive Leadership course & Web3 for Marketing course, AI Product Management Course, and Customer Research and Discovery Course at Gigantic.is Leadpages: The Easiest Way to Grow Your Sales. Check out their landing page templates today. Rocketship is brought to you by The Podglomerate. *** Previous Guests include Seth Goden, Christian Idioti, Ash Maurya, Dan Shapiro of Glowforge, Lolita Taub, Amy Hood of Hoodzpah, Amanda Goetz, Helen Tran, Ben Parr, Mac Conwell, Charli Marie Prangley of ConvertKit, Kandis O'Brian, Laura Roeder, Brenna Loury of Doist, Lopa van der Mersch of Rasa, Ken Norton, Randy Silver, Sanjiv Kalevar of OpenView Venture Partners, Dan Olsen, Jay Clouse, Melissa Perri, Dheerja Kaur of Robinhood, Rahul Vohra of Superhuman, Rich Mironov, Ben Foster, ChatGPT, Ron Weiner of Earth Class Mail. *** This show is a part of the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter for more information about our shows, launches, and events. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy.  Since you're listening to Rocketship, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows surrounding entrepreneurship, business, and careers like Creative Elements and Freelance to Founder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Michael Sacca and Michael Belsito drop some major news before diving into the latest developments in the AI space. They discuss the tempered expectations surrounding generative AI and its impact on tech giants and consumers alike. Amidst the AI hype, companies are cautious about investing in new AI services due to high costs and questionable productivity gains. Later, they explore the product-market fit journey of Sprig, a product research platform, with CEO Ryan Glasglow. Glasglow shares his insights into identifying and validating critical problems faced by users, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer willingness to pay and the value proposition within existing software budgets. The episode also delves into Sprig's differentiation in a crowded market and their early customer acquisition strategy. Tune in for a deep dive into AI realities and product validation strategies in the tech world. This podcast is brought to you by: Go to http://porkbun.com/RocketshipFM24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! Miro: Go to Miro.com/podcast and get your first three Miro boards free forever. Hubspot: Listen to The Science of Scaling wherever you get your podcasts. Gigantic: Learn more about Gigantic's Product Leadership course, Generative AI, Product Management course, Executive Leadership course & Web3 for Marketing course, AI Product Management Course, and Customer Research and Discovery Course at Gigantic.is Leadpages: The Easiest Way to Grow Your Sales. Check out their landing page templates today. Rocketship is brought to you by The Podglomerate. *** Previous Guests include Seth Goden, Christian Idioti, Ash Maurya, Dan Shapiro of Glowforge, Lolita Taub, Amy Hood of Hoodzpah, Amanda Goetz, Helen Tran, Ben Parr, Mac Conwell, Charli Marie Prangley of ConvertKit, Kandis O'Brian, Laura Roeder, Brenna Loury of Doist, Lopa van der Mersch of Rasa, Ken Norton, Randy Silver, Sanjiv Kalevar of OpenView Venture Partners, Dan Olsen, Jay Clouse, Melissa Perri, Dheerja Kaur of Robinhood, Rahul Vohra of Superhuman, Rich Mironov, Ben Foster, ChatGPT, Ron Weiner of Earth Class Mail. *** This show is a part of the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter for more information about our shows, launches, and events. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy.  Since you're listening to Rocketship, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows surrounding entrepreneurship, business, and careers like Creative Elements and Freelance to Founder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, join us as we revisit the predictions made last year and assess their impact on the tech landscape. The forecast of an impending recession, particularly hitting the tech sector first, has proven true, with notable companies facing multiple rounds of layoffs. The unsettling trend of stocks rising amidst job cuts continues to raise eyebrows, painting a complex economic picture. On a brighter note, the prediction that AI is here to stay is reaffirmed. Far from being a passing fad, AI remains the talk of the town, creating new job opportunities and enhancing existing roles. As the technological revolution continues, AI proves to be an invaluable asset to our professional lives. Social media dynamics are shifting, with a projection that more individuals will bid farewell to Twitter, making way for Facebook to take center stage. Explore the evolving landscape of online platforms and the factors influencing user preferences. In the realm of cryptocurrency, the anticipated rebound remains elusive. Instead, the market continues its unpredictable trajectory of ups and downs. Delve into the factors contributing to the crypto rollercoaster and the implications for investors and enthusiasts alike. Join us for a deep dive into the ever-changing currents of the tech industry, where economic forecasts meet the undeniable influence of emerging technologies. As we unravel the complexities of last year's predictions, gain insights into what lies ahead for the world of tech, finance, and artificial intelligence. 🚀🔍 This podcast is brought to you by: Go to http://porkbun.com/RocketshipFM24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! Miro: Go to Miro.com/podcast and get your first three Miro boards free forever. Hubspot: Listen to The Science of Scaling wherever you get your podcasts. Gigantic: Learn more about Gigantic's Product Leadership course, Generative AI, Product Management course, Executive Leadership course & Web3 for Marketing course, AI Product Management Course, and Customer Research and Discovery Course at Gigantic.is Leadpages: The Easiest Way to Grow Your Sales. Check out their landing page templates today. Rocketship is brought to you by The Podglomerate. *** Previous Guests include Seth Goden, Christian Idioti, Ash Maurya, Dan Shapiro of Glowforge, Lolita Taub, Amy Hood of Hoodzpah, Amanda Goetz, Helen Tran, Ben Parr, Mac Conwell, Charli Marie Prangley of ConvertKit, Kandis O'Brian, Laura Roeder, Brenna Loury of Doist, Lopa van der Mersch of Rasa, Ken Norton, Randy Silver, Sanjiv Kalevar of OpenView Venture Partners, Dan Olsen, Jay Clouse, Melissa Perri, Dheerja Kaur of Robinhood, Rahul Vohra of Superhuman, Rich Mironov, Ben Foster, ChatGPT, Ron Weiner of Earth Class Mail. *** This show is a part of the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter for more information about our shows, launches, and events. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy.  Since you're listening to Rocketship, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows surrounding entrepreneurship, business, and careers like Creative Elements and Freelance to Founder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On todays episdoe we discuss Dagster, a data orchestration platform developed by Dagster Labs, founded by Nick Schrock in 2018. Schrock, known for co-founding GraphQL, envisioned Dagster as a solution to the challenges of managing complex data pipelines reliably and at scale. The discussion centers on exploring Dagster's history, particularly focusing on the journey to finding product-market fit. Sacca mentions his recent interview with Pedram Navid, the Head of Data Engineering and DevRel at Dagster Labs, highlighting Navid's extensive experience in the data industry. Sacca expresses anticipation for discussing Dagster's journey to finding initial product-market fit, indicating relevance for product-focused audiences. The conversation also touches on the concept of "quantified organizations," a burgeoning trend in the data space. The dialogue concludes with a teaser for related discussions and insights to follow in the podcast episode. This podcast is brought to you by: Go to http://porkbun.com/RocketshipFM24 to get $1 off your next desired domain name at Porkbun! Miro: Go to Miro.com/podcast and get your first three Miro boards free forever. Hubspot: Listen to The Science of Scaling wherever you get your podcasts. Gigantic: Learn more about Gigantic's Product Leadership course, Generative AI, Product Management course, Executive Leadership course & Web3 for Marketing course, AI Product Management Course, and Customer Research and Discovery Course at Gigantic.is Rocketship is brought to you by The Podglomerate. *** Previous Guests include Seth Goden, Christian Idioti, Ash Maurya, Dan Shapiro of Glowforge, Lolita Taub, Amy Hood of Hoodzpah, Amanda Goetz, Helen Tran, Ben Parr, Mac Conwell, Charli Marie Prangley of ConvertKit, Kandis O'Brian, Laura Roeder, Brenna Loury of Doist, Lopa van der Mersch of Rasa, Ken Norton, Randy Silver, Sanjiv Kalevar of OpenView Venture Partners, Dan Olsen, Jay Clouse, Melissa Perri, Dheerja Kaur of Robinhood, Rahul Vohra of Superhuman, Rich Mironov, Ben Foster, ChatGPT, Ron Weiner of Earth Class Mail. *** This show is a part of the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter for more information about our shows, launches, and events. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy.  Since you're listening to Rocketship, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows surrounding entrepreneurship, business, and careers like Creative Elements and Freelance to Founder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Belsito and Michael Sacca reflect on the common occurrence in the consumer tech industry where new competitor products emerge to overshadow original popular products, citing examples like the iPhone overtaking the Blackberry and Facebook surpassing MySpace. They discuss the rarity of a new competitor product being priced significantly higher than the original, such as the iPhone compared to the Blackberry's price point. This conversation leads them to introduce the main focus of the episode: the Apple Vision Pro, priced at a staggering $3,500, which is ten times more expensive than its closest competitor. They tease a discussion on the early reception of this product and whether it justifies its hefty price tag. In this episode, Belsito and Sacca delve into the intriguing narrative of the Apple Vision Pro, a revolutionary product that has already sparked intense debate and captured the attention of tech enthusiasts worldwide. Priced significantly higher than its closest competitor, they aim to explore the implications of its astronomical price tag, its impact on the consumer market, and the early reactions shaping public opinion. This insightful discussion promises to uncover the factors behind Apple's latest innovation and its potential to redefine the future of consumer technology. This podcast is brought to you by: Miro: Go to Miro.com/podcast and get your first three Miro boards free forever. Hubspot: Listen to The Science of Scaling wherever you get your podcasts. Gigantic: Learn more about Gigantic's Product Leadership course, Generative AI, Product Management course, Executive Leadership course & Web3 for Marketing course, AI Product Management Course, and Customer Research and Discovery Course at Gigantic.is Rocketship is brought to you by The Podglomerate. *** Previous Guests include Seth Goden, Christian Idioti, Ash Maurya, Dan Shapiro of Glowforge, Lolita Taub, Amy Hood of Hoodzpah, Amanda Goetz, Helen Tran, Ben Parr, Mac Conwell, Charli Marie Prangley of ConvertKit, Kandis O'Brian, Laura Roeder, Brenna Loury of Doist, Lopa van der Mersch of Rasa, Ken Norton, Randy Silver, Sanjiv Kalevar of OpenView Venture Partners, Dan Olsen, Jay Clouse, Melissa Perri, Dheerja Kaur of Robinhood, Rahul Vohra of Superhuman, Rich Mironov, Ben Foster, ChatGPT, Ron Weiner of Earth Class Mail. *** This show is a part of the Podglomerate network, a company that produces, distributes, and monetizes podcasts. We encourage you to visit the website and sign up for our newsletter for more information about our shows, launches, and events. For more information on how The Podglomerate treats data, please see our Privacy Policy.  Since you're listening to Rocketship, we'd like to suggest you also try other Podglomerate shows surrounding entrepreneurship, business, and careers like Creative Elements and Freelance to Founder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, hosts Michael Sacca and Mike Belsito dive into the intricacies of a product that has sparked both admiration and frustration among its users: Asana. As they unpack Asana's evolution, they explore its inception by co-founders Justin Rosenstein and Dustin Moskovitz, with Dustin's departure from Facebook marking the genesis of a vision for modernizing project management. From its beta days to the 2011 public launch, Asana's rapid growth and intuitive interface captured the hearts of users, boasting a retention rate of over 75% within a year. But it wasn't just about project management; Asana's flexibility saw users employing it for myriad purposes, reflecting the product's adaptability and appeal. Despite stiff competition, Asana's strategic decisions, including offering the product free for teams of up to 30 people, solidified its position in the market. Fast forward to the present day, where the spotlight shines on Asana's latest innovation: Automation. With insights from Anna Marie Clifton, the mastermind behind this transformative feature, listeners gain a behind-the-scenes look at the product development process. Anna's departure from Coinbase underscores her commitment to reshaping the future of work through Asana. Through strategic alignment and narrative development, Anna and her team set out to tackle the age-old problem of "work about work." Focusing on streamlining workflows and addressing pain points such as cumbersome handoffs, Asana's Automation feature promises to revolutionize how teams collaborate and communicate. Join Sacca and Belsito as they navigate the Asana Automation journey, uncovering the driving forces behind this game-changing innovation and its potential to redefine productivity in the modern workplace. Tune in for an insightful discussion that explores the intersection of product development, user experience, and the ever-evolving landscape of work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in to the latest episode of Rocketship.FM as hosts Mike Belsito and Michael Sacca dive into the exciting world of tech products and innovations. In this episode, they explore recent developments from the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and discuss the latest trends shaping the tech landscape. From deepfake robocalls impersonating political figures to groundbreaking AI-powered devices like the rabbit r1, listeners will gain insight into the ethical implications and practical applications of cutting-edge technology. Join Belsito and Sacca as they dissect notable products showcased at CES, including Apple's Vision Pro mixed reality headset, Samsung's Galaxy S-series, and the innovative transparent TV. They also explore the potential impact of smart health devices like Beamo and the Evie Smart Ring, as well as unconventional gadgets like the Samsung Music Frame and a smart smoker. Through engaging conversation and insightful analysis, listeners will discover how these products are reshaping consumer behavior and revolutionizing daily life. Don't miss out on this episode of Rocketship.FM, where Belsito and Sacca share their perspectives on the latest tech trends and discuss the exciting possibilities that lie ahead in the ever-evolving world of technology. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, product manager, or simply curious about the future of innovation, this episode offers valuable insights and captivating discussions that are sure to inform and inspire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices