Victor Gross, Lead Product at Hexa - the start-up studio behind Aircall and Spendesk - shares his 4 essential tips for turning an idea into a successful product.
Creating a product that users love doesn't just rely on good execution. In the world of start-ups, the road to success is strewn with pitfalls.
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1. Choose your industry carefully
Execution is essential, but so is the choice of industry you enter. Once committed, the pivot often becomes limited to adjacent segments.
"Choose an industry you love. Once you get started, it will be much harder to pivot. For example, if you're targeting freelancers, you'll be able to move around, but you'll stay in that market."
Victor identifies three main sources of ideas:
- A concrete problem to solve,
- A technological or regulatory innovation,
- The creation of a new market category.
2. Start by selling the problem, not the solution
Before even writing a line of code, Victor insists on the importance of validating the existence and pain of the problem.
"As soon as we've identified a problem, we'll try to sell a pilot on slide with what we call design partners. So we create an initial presentation, and pitch it to companies, outlining the problem, our initial hypotheses, and very broad features. At the end of the presentation, we propose that they buy the product we're going to design, and that they give us regular feedback so that we can design the most accomplished product possible".
This approach enables you to co-construct with design partners and ensure that the problem you're trying to solve is real - and a priority - for your future users.
3. Build a radically simple MVP
One of the classic pitfalls: trying to do too much, too fast. Victor recommends a radical Minimum Viable Product approach.
"Halve the features, the options, the buttons. Exhaust. Successful products are hyper-simple. If your product is complicated, you're not going in the right direction."
The objective? A clear, easy-to-use product that responds to a strong need, without superfluity. Simplicity is a formidable weapon.
4. Be obsessed with user feedback
Feedback isn't a bonus. It's a vital part of product development.
"One of the keys is to talk to your users every week. You need to know by heart what they do, how they think, what they like and dislike. You have to get to the walls as quickly as possible."
The key is also to show that feedback is heard. This rapid loop between feedback and iterations builds trust and strengthens user commitment.
"The more your users see that their feedback influences the product, the more they get involved."
Want to find out more? Discover all Victor Gross's podcast tips on Spotify, Deezer and Apple Podcast.ย
In the new episode of the zero to one podcast, Victor Gross - Lead Product at Hexa talks about :
- Start with a real need before thinking solution
- Test an idea and convince customers without a finished product
- Create a simple MVP that delivers value from the outset
Luba Benas
Communications Manager
