Product for Product Management EP 134 - Product Engine for PMF - Giacomo Poggiali
Jul 23, 2025
01:05:15
Do you have a method to reach Product Market Fit (PMF) with your product?
In this episode, we’re joined by Giacomo Poggiali, a Sparring Partner for bold partners at Sparring Startups, to learn about his “Product Engine” framework for reaching PMF. Giacomo is a product coach and repeat founding product leader who has helped over 150 startups navigate the challenging path to product-market fit (PMF).
Giacomo shares how his journey began with the lean startup methodology as his thesis, and how he’s since applied those principles across design, product, and marketing in early-stage companies. After experiencing the transformation that comes with reaching PMF firsthand, Giacomo became passionate about helping other teams replicate that journey—again and again.
We dive into Giacomo’s perspective on what PMF really means, moving beyond textbook definitions to describe how it actually feels for a team: the shift from pushing a boulder uphill to racing after it as momentum takes hold. Drawing from years of hands-on experience, Giacomo introduces his “Product Engine” framework—a practical playbook for identifying your most valuable users, uncovering what truly drives value, and systematically removing blockers to adoption.
Join Matt and Moshe as they explored with Giacomo:
Note: any views mentioned in the podcast are the sole views of our hosts and guests, and do not represent the products mentioned in any way.
Please leave us a review and feedback ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In this episode, we’re joined by Giacomo Poggiali, a Sparring Partner for bold partners at Sparring Startups, to learn about his “Product Engine” framework for reaching PMF. Giacomo is a product coach and repeat founding product leader who has helped over 150 startups navigate the challenging path to product-market fit (PMF).
Giacomo shares how his journey began with the lean startup methodology as his thesis, and how he’s since applied those principles across design, product, and marketing in early-stage companies. After experiencing the transformation that comes with reaching PMF firsthand, Giacomo became passionate about helping other teams replicate that journey—again and again.
We dive into Giacomo’s perspective on what PMF really means, moving beyond textbook definitions to describe how it actually feels for a team: the shift from pushing a boulder uphill to racing after it as momentum takes hold. Drawing from years of hands-on experience, Giacomo introduces his “Product Engine” framework—a practical playbook for identifying your most valuable users, uncovering what truly drives value, and systematically removing blockers to adoption.
Join Matt and Moshe as they explored with Giacomo:
- The difference between pre- and post-PMF challenges for product teams
- What the Product Engine is, and how it helps startups identify their lighthouse users and core value
- How to use behavioral data and qualitative insights to uncover value blockers
- The 80/20 approach: why doubling down on core value matters more than fixing every blocker
- When and how to off-board users who aren’t a good fit
- Real-world examples of the Product Engine in action, including pivots and surprising discoveries
- Applying the Product Engine to B2B, B2C, and API products
- Practical steps for product managers to start implementing the framework
- Where AI can support the process of finding PMF
- Advice for teams and PMs on building something truly valuable—and knowing when you’ve reached PMF
- And much more!
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giacomopoggiali/
- Sparing Startups: https://www.sparringstartups.com/
- Product for Product Podcast - linkedin.com/company/product-for-product-podcast
- Matt Green - linkedin.com/in/mattgreenproduct/
- Moshe Mikanovsky - linkedin.com/in/mikanovsky/
Note: any views mentioned in the podcast are the sole views of our hosts and guests, and do not represent the products mentioned in any way.
Please leave us a review and feedback ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️