Cycling Guide Case Study
By Quinn F
Client
Cycling Guide
Date
Summer/Fall 2023
Role
Product Manager
Website
www.cyclingguide.app
Lowest potential
Modestly promising
Significantly more promising
Most promising
Project overview
Cycling Guide is a GPS and map focused on designing low-stress, cycling-centric routes. These routes would prioritize cycling infrastructure and minimize car traffic, promoting everyday cycling for improved health and environmental benefits.
Challenges
The company began as a passion project for exploring new technologies, evolving into a venture that attracted community interest. Now the question is it a business?
I initially came in to give direction on the product and the business ran into a funding problem.
The founder and employees became enamored with their solution and then focused on finding a problem it could solve.
Project overview
Cycling Guide is a GPS and map focused on designing low-stress, cycling-centric routes. These routes would prioritize cycling infrastructure and minimize car traffic, promoting everyday cycling for improved health and environmental benefits.
Challenges
The company began as a passion project for exploring new technologies, evolving into a venture that attracted community interest. Now the question is it a business?
I initially came in to give direction on the product and the business ran into a funding problem.
The founder and employees became enamored with their solution and then focused on finding a problem it could solve.
Lowest potential
Modestly promising
Significantly more promising
Most promising
Cycling guide should invest in features that drives data collection
Recognizing the need for user-generated data, the next step was to brainstorm strategies to achieve this.
The goals were to increase downloads, keep users engaged, and ensure they use the app while riding to generate more precise and efficient route data.
In-depth analysis of options
Lowest potential
Modestly promising
Significantly more promising
Most promising
After analyzing all available options, each initiative was ranked based on its potential impact and feasibility.
Given the small team and the urgency to generate revenue quickly, the focus shifted to initiatives that require less effort and cost to implement.
This approach ensures focus and resources are directed toward the most promising initiatives with the shortest time to money and the highest likelihood of success.
North Star Framework
Retrospective
This gave me an opportunity to work with a small team that fell in love with the product. I collaborated with them to understand their goals and to develop a path forward to profitability.
Since this work, the team has secured a few government opportunities through the government of Waterloo It was a good chance to apply my course learning first hand.
And I look forward to continue to develop my craft in my next role
What Went Well
Collaborated with Designers and Engineers to successfully develop a product strategy with a viable path forward for the company.
Opportunity to work as a product manager in a real environment and work together with a fully remote team
What Went Meh
People were not as engaged as expected, which affected overall enthusiasm and productivity.
Feedback cycles were slower than desired, delaying some decision-making processes
What Went Poorly
The team continued to be enamored with their technology. Instead of prioritizing revenue driving features, they focussed on technically challenging tasks.
In the initial planning, the team was in denial about their situation so misstated the company's goals, resulting in a reset of the project's direction mid-course
I didn't have the opportunity to interview users firsthand, as they had already participated in multiple rounds of interviews that were recorded a few weeks before I joined the project.
Lowest potential
Modestly promising
Significantly more promising
Most promising
Project overview
Cycling Guide is a GPS and map focused on designing low-stress, cycling-centric routes. These routes would prioritize cycling infrastructure and minimize car traffic, promoting everyday cycling for improved health and environmental benefits.
Challenges
The company began as a passion project for exploring new technologies, evolving into a venture that attracted community interest. Now the question is it a business?
I initially came in to give direction on the product and the business ran into a funding problem.
The founder and employees became enamored with their solution and then focused on finding a problem it could solve.
Cycling guide should invest in features that drives data collection
Recognizing the need for user-generated data, the next step was to brainstorm strategies to achieve this.
The goals were to increase downloads, keep users engaged, and ensure they use the app while riding to generate more precise and efficient route data.
North Star Framework
Retrospective
This gave me an opportunity to work with a small team that fell in love with the product. I collaborated with them to understand their goals and to develop a path forward to profitability.
Since this work, the team has secured a few government opportunities through the government of Waterloo It was a good chance to apply my course learning first hand.
And I look forward to continue to develop my craft in my next role
What Went Well
Collaborated with Designers and Engineers to successfully develop a product strategy with a viable path forward for the company.
Opportunity to work as a product manager in a real environment and work together with a fully remote team
What Went Meh
People were not as engaged as expected, which affected overall enthusiasm and productivity.
Feedback cycles were slower than desired, delaying some decision-making processes
What Went Poorly
The team continued to be enamored with their technology. Instead of prioritizing revenue driving features, they focussed on technically challenging tasks.
In the initial planning, the team was in denial about their situation so misstated the company's goals, resulting in a reset of the project's direction mid-course
I didn't have the opportunity to interview users firsthand, as they had already participated in multiple rounds of interviews that were recorded a few weeks before I joined the project.
Cycling guide should invest in features that drives data collection
Recognizing the need for user-generated data, the next step was to brainstorm strategies to achieve this.
The goals were to increase downloads, keep users engaged, and ensure they use the app while riding to generate more precise and efficient route data.
In-depth analysis of options
After analyzing all available options, each initiative was ranked based on its potential impact and feasibility.
Given the small team and the urgency to generate revenue quickly, the focus shifted to initiatives that require less effort and cost to implement.
This approach ensures focus and resources are directed toward the most promising initiatives with the shortest time to money and the highest likelihood of success.
North Star Framework
Retrospective
This gave me an opportunity to work with a small team that fell in love with the product. I collaborated with them to understand their goals and to develop a path forward to profitability.
Since this work, the team has secured a few government opportunities through the government of Waterloo
It was a good chance to apply my course learning first hand.
And I look forward to continue to develop my craft in my next role
What Went Well
Collaborated with Designers and Engineers to successfully develop a product strategy with a viable path forward for the company.
Opportunity to work as a product manager in a real environment and work together with a fully remote team
What Went Meh
People were not as engaged as expected, which affected overall enthusiasm and productivity.
Feedback cycles were slower than desired, delaying some decision-making processes
What Went Poorly
The team continued to be enamored with their technology. Instead of prioritizing revenue driving features, they focussed on technically challenging tasks.
In the initial planning, the team was in denial about their situation so misstated the company's goals, resulting in a reset of the project's direction mid-course
I didn't have the opportunity to interview users firsthand, as they had already participated in multiple rounds of interviews that were recorded a few weeks before I joined the project.
So my first step was investigating ways to monetize the solution
Using Itamar Gilad's confidence calculator, I evaluated use cases for their revenue-generating potential
By Quinn F
Client
Cycling Guide
Date
Summer/Fall 2023
Role
Product Manager
Website
www.cyclingguide.app
Project overview
Cycling Guide is a GPS and map focused on designing low-stress, cycling-centric routes. These routes would prioritize cycling infrastructure and minimize car traffic, promoting everyday cycling for improved health and environmental benefits.
Challenges
The company began as a passion project for exploring new technologies, evolving into a venture that attracted community interest. Now the question is it a business?
I initially came in to give direction on the product and the business ran into a funding problem. The founder and employees became enamored with their solution and then focused on finding a problem it could solve.
Cycling guide should invest in features that drives data collection
Recognizing the need for user-generated data, the next step was to brainstorm strategies to achieve this.
The goals were to increase downloads, keep users engaged, and ensure they use the app while riding to generate more precise and efficient route data.
North Star Framework
Retrospective
This gave me an opportunity to work with a small team that fell in love with the product. I collaborated with them to understand their goals and to develop a path forward to profitability.
Since this work, the team has secured a few government opportunities through the government of Waterloo It was a good chance to apply my course learning first hand.
And I look forward to continue to develop my craft in my next role
What Went Well
Collaborated with Designers and Engineers to successfully develop a product strategy with a viable path forward for the company.
Opportunity to work as a product manager in a real environment and work together with a fully remote team
What Went Meh
People were not as engaged as expected, which affected overall enthusiasm and productivity.
Feedback cycles were slower than desired, delaying some decision-making processes
What Went Poorly
The team continued to be enamored with their technology. Instead of prioritizing revenue driving features, they focussed on technically challenging tasks.
In the initial planning, the team was in denial about their situation so misstated the company's goals, resulting in a reset of the project's direction mid-course
I didn't have the opportunity to interview users firsthand, as they had already participated in multiple rounds of interviews that were recorded a few weeks before I joined the project.
Cycling Guide Case Study
By Quinn F
Client
Cycling Guide
Date
Summer/Fall 2023
Role
Product Manager
Website
www.cyclingguide.app
Cycling Guide Case Study
By Quinn F
Client
Cycling Guide
Date
Summer/Fall 2023
Role
Product Manager
Website
www.cyclingguide.app
Cycling Guide Case Study
By Quinn F
Client
Cycling Guide
Date
Summer/Fall 2023
Role
Product Manager
Website
www.cyclingguide.app
Cycling Guide Case Study
By Quinn F
Client
Cycling Guide
Date
Summer/Fall 2023
Role
Product Manager
Website
www.cyclingguide.app
Cycling Guide Case Study
Cycling Guide Case Study