Problem:
VimChat, a mobile app startup, had developed a prototype allowing consumers to text businesses using keywords (e.g., #75757) without downloading an app. Despite having a working product and test users, the company lacked strategic direction. There was no structured roadmap, user research, or launch strategy. The engineering team worked reactively, while the CEO struggled to balance product decisions and investor relations.

Specific Task:
As a Technical Product Manager consultant, I was brought in for a three-month engagement to bring structure and strategy to the company. My mandate included creating a comprehensive product roadmap, developing detailed user personas, conducting market sizing analysis, designing a go-to-market strategy, and refining investor messaging. The goal was to transform VimChat from a promising prototype into a market-ready product with clear direction and growth potential.

What I Owned:
I began by conducting extensive user research, gathering insights from over 100 survey responses and performing 12 in-depth interviews with small business owners. This research led to the development of three key user personas: Realtors seeking quick lead capture, Service Mechanics needing appointment confirmation capabilities, and Food Truck Owners wanting to maintain customer communication. I then analyzed the competitive landscape and created market sizing models, identifying a total addressable market of 3.5M businesses with a target serviceable obtainable market of 10,000-15,000 users within two years.

To address the engineering challenges, I implemented structured sprints using Jira and established weekly planning sessions. The product roadmap was organized into three tiers, from MVP through to V1.1, ensuring clear progression and priorities. I designed a freemium pricing model with three tiers ranging from free to $49 per month, then launched a private beta program with 50 businesses to validate our approach. Throughout this process, I worked closely with the CEO to develop clear investor messaging and pitch materials that effectively communicated our vision and progress.

Results:
The impact of these initiatives was substantial and measurable. We successfully launched the public beta on schedule and exceeded our conversion targets, achieving an 8% paid conversion rate against our 5% goal. The company acquired over 300 business signups within three months, and engineering productivity improved significantly with clear roadmap milestones. Most notably, the strategic clarity and structured approach we implemented helped position the company for a successful $5 million acquisition by a real estate company. We established scalable processes for product development and go-to-market execution, transforming VimChat from a promising but directionless startup into a focused, growth-oriented business with clear value proposition and market fit.