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The Art and Science of Profitable Product Development
Nirit Gilboa
Nirit Gilboa
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The Art and Science of Profitable Product Development

Learn to craft a product roadmap that not only drives innovation but ensures long-term profitability, balancing great design with business success.

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Apply now
Fridays
 at
11:00
A.M.
 ET /
8:00
A.M.
PT
8 weeks, 2-3 hours per week
Intermediate
No experience required
No experience required
Some experience required
Degree and experience required

Description

The Art and Science of Profitable Product Development project empowers you to transform a product idea into a viable business proposition by guiding you through each stage of the product lifecycle with a focus on profitability.

Throughout this Project, you will conduct competitive analyses, assess market potential, establish revenue models, and construct a financial plan that evaluates costs, revenue, and profitability. Leveraging Agile methodologies and feature prioritization techniques, you will develop a comprehensive product roadmap that balances customer needs with strategic business goals. By the end of the course, you will present a data-backed roadmap and profitability analysis for your product, preparing you for real-world product management and strategic planning.

Session timeline

  • Applications open
    December 1, 2024
  • Application deadline
    January 15, 2025
  • Project start date
    Week of July 8, 2024
    Week of
    February 3, 2025
  • Project end date
    Week of

What you will learn

  • Analyze Competitive Landscapes: Conduct in-depth competitive analyses using frameworks like SWOT and Porter’s Five Forces to position products strategically in the market, focusing on differentiation and customer value.
  • Calculate Market Potential and Revenue Opportunity: Estimate the Total Addressable Market (TAM) for a product, applying industry-standard market sizing techniques to validate product feasibility and profitability.
  • Design and Justify SaaS Pricing Models: Develop SaaS-specific pricing models and strategies, including subscription and freemium options, while assessing the financial implications of various pricing structures on revenue generation.
  • Build Financial Models for Profitability Analysis: Create detailed financial models in Excel, incorporating revenue projections, operating costs, and profitability margins, to evaluate the financial viability of a product concept and support data-driven decision-making.
  • Develop and Present a Product Roadmap: Construct a comprehensive product roadmap, using Agile and Scrum methodologies for feature prioritization and iterative development, culminating in a roadmap presentation that aligns with strategic and financial goals for product success.

Project workshops

1
Introduction to Product Development and Profitability
2
Conducting a Competitive Analysis
3
Total Addressable Market (TAM) and Market Sizing
4
SaaS Pricing Strategies and Revenue Models
5
Building a Financial Model for Profitability Analysis
6
Agile Methodologies and Scrum Practices in Product Development
7
Roadmap Building and Feature Prioritization
8
Final Presentations - Product Roadmap and Profitability Justification

Prerequisites

  • Foundational Excel Skills: Ability to create and format spreadsheets, perform basic calculations, and use formulas to build financial models, especially for cost and revenue analysis.
  • Understanding of Business Fundamentals: Familiarity with key business concepts, including market dynamics, customer segmentation, and competitive advantage, to support strategic decision-making during product development.
  • Analytical and Research Skills: Proficiency in conducting market research and analyzing data, such as calculating market size and identifying key competitors, to validate the product’s market opportunity.
  • Basic Financial Acumen: Knowledge of core financial principles, including revenue and cost structures, to understand profitability metrics and support pricing strategy development.
  • Communication and Presentation Skills: Ability to articulate ideas clearly and present complex concepts, as you will be expected to justify your product roadmap and profitability approach to peers and Fellows.

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About the expert

Nirit Gilboa is a Finance Build Fellow at Open Avenues Foundation, where she works with students leading projects at the intersection of Finance and Product Management.

Nirit is a Director of Product Strategy at Laguna Health, where she works closely with clients to shape Laguna’s products while ensuring they’re driving long-term revenue and profitability.

Nirit has over 12 years of experience in the tech field, with a focus on product management in recent years.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from Tel Aviv University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

A fun fact about Nirit is that she loves to travel and has visited over 20 countries, with Japan being her favorite destination.

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