Exploring the Interplay Between Product and Finance in Startups

Exploring the collaboration between product and finance within software-enabled startups, emphasizing unit economics, profitability in product development, and balancing timing and scoping.

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In this episode, Tomer London, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Gusto, shares insights into aligning product and finance teams for responsible growth. He dives deep into the frameworks and practices Gusto employed to make trade-offs between core products, expansion opportunities, and moonshot ideas - all while maintaining a relentless focus on customer needs and healthy unit economics. Tomer discusses Gusto's thoughtful, iterative approach to product development, avoiding the pitfalls of pursuing growth at all costs. He provides a candid look into Gusto's fundraising philosophy and managing the product-finance relationship through the company's evolution from startup to industry leader.

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LINKS:

gusto.com

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@sashaorloff

@tomerlondon

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:25) Landing on Payroll

(03:46) Payroll as a Wedge

(05:20:)The Importance of Emotional Pain Points

(07:23) Dream Big, Make it Real

(13:06) The Three Horizons Framework