As an advisor at ventureLAB and as a product leader with over 14 years of experience across enterprise software, B2B SaaS, and AI/ML, I help startups develop and refine product strategies, achieve product-market fit, and streamline go-to-market execution. My work is driven by a deep fascination with technology and its role as a great enabler to make a difference and bring lasting progress to businesses and people alike. I am particularly excited about AI - I am passionate about building human-centered AI/ML products that unlock new opportunities and elevate the human potential.
With a background in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and a MBA from the Rotman School of Management, I bring a unique blend of technical depth and business acumen. My professional experience spans large enterprises, high-growth startups, and entrepreneurial ventures - enabling me to operate confidently at the intersection of technology, data and business.
With the rise of AI and agentic systems capable of programming and decision-making, traditional barriers to building digital products - technical expertise, time and capital - are rapidly diminishing. Today, it’s possible for founders to start from a concept and launch a product within a few hours. Less than a year ago, such an endeavour would have taken many months of effort. Many see this as a golden age for builders. In the age where anyone can build, what does it mean to build a successful product? How can we truly differentiate our products?
While many factors such as team, funding, intellectual property, execution contribute, one foundational principle stands out from a product perspective is “staying close to the problem”. The most successful startups deeply understand their customers’ pain points, needs and desires at a level their competitors do not.
The level of insight into the customers’ pain points is built through a combination of:
- Domain expertise - either through the founders’ direct experience, access to subject matter experts, or by hiring exceptional talent with deep industry knowledge.
- Ongoing customer engagement - consistently listening to customers and users to uncover evolving needs.
- Rapid iteration - experimenting and delivering value quickly not only helps arrive at the right solution faster but also exposes deeper, often hidden problems earlier.
- Scalable distribution - a great product that solves a problem for one customer should solve it for many. Distribution not only drives growth but also provides critical insights and sharpens product focus.
In this new age, when building a product is easier than ever, building the right product still requires a relentless commitment to staying closer to the problem.
