Think Big, Start Small, Scale Fast

2. Think Big but Start Small
and then Scale Fast
Sanjay Vijayakumar

3. Tips to decide your feature
set for Product Alpha v0.1

4. Build your product in versions with
every version being usable by

5. Most of us have a big and
complex vision

6. But the key is to understand that
every complex system started
with a simple working system

7. Eg: Chillr today does over
100,000 transactions per day

8. Here is how we built it across alpha, beta and
launch

9. Wireframes were first drawn up

10. Basic screens were then designed

11. Code was written for a basic version which
worked over SMS - to show demo to banks to
give us API’s

12. HDFC liked the demo and joined as First Partner
Bank

13. More Features were then built over time learning
from customer feedback

14. More Features were then built over time learning
from customer feedback

15. After 2 years, Chillr does over 100,000
transactions per day

16. SV.CO v0.1 did not have a founder dashboard!
It was introduced for Batch 3 for first time - 18
months from first wire frames

17. The v0.1 timeline builder was primitive but worked

18. At Alpha stage, build the most important
feature that customers will use.
first built feature to build Timelines
first built feature to Transfer Money

19. Without the first early customer, both products
could not have been built. Now the customer
feedback drives product evolution.
first built feature to build Timelines
first built feature to Transfer Money

20. So how do you pick the
v0.1 Alpha features?

21. Focus on the core
problem you are solving.

22. Build a usable product that solves one
key problem the customer is facing.
Remember: the key word here is usable.

23. The customer should be able
to test and give feedback on
whatever you build.

24. You also should be able to demo
whatever you build. In a fashion
that a prospective customer will
immediately realise its value.

25. Note: doing this effectively will
mean attempting the “Build a
Product Narrative” target too.

26. To Do Task:
#1 List your full imaginary set of Features of v1.0
#2 List your first core set of features for Alpha v0.1

27. Also write down your insight in your
timeline entry as to what you learnt
by trying to complete this task

28. Insight = new learning, action items
or other todo tasks.
All because you
performed this task.

29. Insight pointers: Try to learn
from successful products that
you use (Whatsapp, Facebook,
google search etc) on how the
founders built the first version.

30. Don’t forget to check
the Rubric for pointers.