SpaceX's Product Checklist

Today at a glance:

• Opportunity → AI Audio Ad Blocker

• Framework → Shape Up

• Resource → Easy Performance Reviews for Startups

• Trend → Summarizing Tools

• Quote → SpaceX’s Checklist

🤝 A Message from Pesto

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💡 Opportunity: AI Audio Ad Blocker

I know I’m not the only one who skips through podcast ads. What if they got skipped automatically?

Someone could probably build an MVP for this in a weekend (I’ll be your first customer if you do).

🧠 Framework: Shape Up

Too many founders follow Agile methods by default without considering other options.

Shape Up was created by Ryan Singer, head of product strategy at Basecamp, and advocates for thinking of product development in “cycles” — self-defined, fixed timeframes for achieving a specific central goal.

The framework’s argument is basically that more flexibility with cycle structure (and fewer meetings) leads to better product iterations and shipping efficiency.

🛠 Tool: Performance Reviews Made Easy

Startups succeed when team members have a way to openly share feedback with one another, but most performance management tools are clunky and built for big companies.

Effy seems like it’s worth a shot for startups though. They just launched on Product Hunt two weeks ago and already feature an AI summarizing tool, as well as a handy Slack integration.

📈 Trend: Summarizing

Let’s be honest: LLMs are better and 10x faster at summarizing things (meetings, podcasts, legal docs, etc) than humans are.

Building tools that leverage this across various industries is one of the most clear, early applications for LLMs.

I imagine we’ll continue to see summarizing tools for niche use cases pop up over the next year or two.

💬 Quote

This plaque hangs on the walls at SpaceX’s Starbase. It’s good advice for any startup.

💡 How I Can Help

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1. Grab time with me for a 1:1 session on fundraising, GTM and growth, hiring, finding PMF, or anything else

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