introduction

SOAR is a new-age digital platform for startups worldwide. As the companion site for ‘The Startup LaunchBook’, we believe that every founding team is unique, and each startup must create its own pathway to success. We are here to help you build yours with free world-class tools.

my role and the story

I took over the product as a freelance product manager, and my role was to assemble a team of individuals to join me in building this concept within a set budget. I assembled a group of two developers, and I took care of the design portion. The concept for the product and how it would enter the market were crystal apparent from the first. Since the founder, Ajay Batra, had previously conducted a thorough analysis of the market, I came in on aligning the product-market fit and the execution. We designed and developed the first version of the product which was taken to the market. But according to the user response, we then made some changes in the Launch and Growth index calculators as well as the front-end of the product. The initial design was then replaced by a WordPress template for the ease of use of Ajay sir.

the problems we were trying to solve

  • In India, many startups are currently sprouting, but the majority of them lack even the most fundamental knowledge of what needs to be done and when. To help with this in the most scalable way possible, we created simple questionnaires that teams can use to identify their capabilities and where they stand in the market in comparison to other players. They would also receive recommendations based on their responses.

  • This was also a market-acquisition strategy for Ajay Batra's book, The Startup Launch. Ajay Batra and his team may then drive the newly gained market to their book and one-on-one mentoring.

the product

The product was divided into three parts :

  • Startup launch index

    This was put together to help the founders in determining whether their business or product was ready to be released, and if not, what areas could need further attention.

  • Startup growth index

    This was built to assist the teams in determining whether their business or product is ready to scale and be propelled toward growth, and if not, what areas might need more emphasis.

  • Startup investment-readiness index

    This was created to assist the founders in determining whether their business or product is ready for additional funding and, if not, what areas need to be addressed.

the main challenges

  • Due to the nature of employment, the team was always changing, making it difficult to preserve the roadmap as team members joined and left.

  • Writing code and logic that would support all of the product's varied use cases was a significant task as well because the algorithm's outcomes were crucial and had a significant impact on many people's lives, either directly or indirectly.

key takeaways

  • Early on in my career in product management, this product taught me the value of comprehending and defining the product's scope.

  • This method showed me how to strike a balance between building a "perfect world" product with all of the features necessary for a successful MVP.

  • How to effectively lead a remote engineering team when the members are difficult to reach, lack communication, and make little progress.

visit the company website

I tried to put as much as I could into words, but I feel there is a lot more I can share about this adventure of mine, if you are interested in knowing about the same, let's get on a call

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From Concept to Reality: The Journey of SOAR

Introduction

SOAR is an innovative digital platform dedicated to supporting startups worldwide. As the companion site for 'The Startup Launch Book,' we believe in the uniqueness of each founding team and the necessity for every startup to chart its own path to success. Our mission is to empower you with free, world-class tools to build your own remarkable journey.

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My Role and the Story

Taking on the role of a product manager (under The Experitos Studio), I embarked on the exciting challenge of assembling a talented team to bring this concept to life within a defined budget. Collaborating with two skilled developers, I personally oversaw the design aspect. From the outset, the product's concept and market entry strategy were crystal clear. Building upon the founder's diligent market analysis, my focus was on aligning the product-market fit and executing our vision. We successfully designed and developed the initial version of the product, which we launched to the market. However, based on user feedback, we refined the Launch and Growth Index calculators as well as the product's front-end. Eventually, we transitioned to a WordPress template for enhanced user experience, simplifying Mr. Batra's interaction with the platform.

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The Problems We Were Trying to Solve

In India's burgeoning startup ecosystem, many aspiring entrepreneurs lack fundamental knowledge and guidance on essential steps and milestones. To address this challenge at scale, we devised straightforward questionnaires that teams could utilize to assess their capabilities and position in the market relative to their peers. Based on their responses, they would receive personalized recommendations. This initiative also served as a strategic approach to acquiring a market presence for Ajay Batra's book, 'The Startup Launch,' allowing Ajay and his team to leverage this newfound audience for their book and one-on-one mentoring sessions.

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The Product

SOAR consisted of three core components:

  1. Startup Launch Index: A comprehensive tool to help founders determine the readiness of their business or product for launch, highlighting areas that may require further attention.
  2. Startup Growth Index: An invaluable resource to assist teams in assessing their preparedness for scaling and propelling their business towards sustainable growth, pinpointing areas that may require additional focus.
  3. Startup Investment-Readiness Index: An essential guide for founders to evaluate their business or product's readiness for securing additional funding, identifying areas that may need refinement to attract potential investors.

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The Main Challenges

Maintaining a cohesive roadmap proved challenging due to the fluid nature of team dynamics, with members joining and departing at various stages of the project. Additionally, developing code and logic that catered to diverse use cases posed a significant task. The outcomes of the algorithms wielded substantial influence on individuals' lives, making precision and accuracy paramount.

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Key Takeaways

This early experience in my product management career instilled in me the importance of comprehending and defining a product's scope. It taught me to strike a delicate balance between building a feature-rich "perfect world" product and delivering a lean, minimum viable product. Moreover, it provided valuable lessons in effectively leading a remote engineering team, navigating communication challenges, and fostering progress even in the face of limited accessibility.

Testimonial

Ajay Batra

Founder Uniqorn | Board member Savart | Author

I wanted to develop a self-assessment web platform for Startups, which was intuitive and value-adding. While I had concrete ideas about the core questions to be asked, I was unsure of the best way to present them to the user. This is where Aaditya's expertise helped me a great deal. His sharp understanding of technology and UX was instrumental in developing SOAR the way it is now. Not only the technical aspects, Aaditya is supremely respectful, manages tasks professionally, and is very approachable to his clients. I wish him the best!

Ajay Batra

Founder Uniqorn | Board member Savart | Author

I wanted to develop a self-assessment web platform for Startups, which was intuitive and value-adding. While I had concrete ideas about the core questions to be asked, I was unsure of the best way to present them to the user. This is where Aaditya's expertise helped me a great deal. His sharp understanding of technology and UX was instrumental in developing SOAR the way it is now. Not only the technical aspects, Aaditya is supremely respectful, manages tasks professionally, and is very approachable to his clients. I wish him the best!

I have merely scratched the surface of this incredible journey in these words. If you're curious to learn more, let's connect for a call where I can share further insights and anecdotes.

Let's talk
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