⁠Shawn Adrian⁠ from ⁠Input Logic⁠

Shawn Adrian is the Founder of Input Logic.

Input Logic is a digital product studio in Nanaimo, BC founded in 2011. They launch beautifully crafted web and mobile apps for brands and startups.

Takeaways

Don't be shy to talk about money and value when freelancing.

Finding product-market fit requires a combination of timing, luck, and intuition.

Building a great product studio involves talent retention and focusing on the craft. Hiring great talent and retaining them is crucial for a successful product studio. It's important to find people who love the craft and allow them to focus on it.

When choosing clients, it's ideal to work with founders who are building zero-to-one products and are willing to take a scrappy approach.

Aligning craft with business constraints requires prioritizing goals, problem-solving, and making decisions on scope and features based on potential revenue impact and customer value.

Launching an MVP involves focusing on design, bug-free execution, and providing value to end users. Iteration and feedback are essential for continuous improvement.

Growth and feedback can be challenging, and it's important to implement metrics and provide clients with tools to make data-driven decisions. Learning from successful growth-focused founders can provide valuable insights.

Equity deals should be evaluated based on the founder's experience, network, and the involvement of trusted individuals.

Chapters

00:00 Early Interest in Design

01:29 Freelancing and Best Practices

05:49 Input Logic and Quote Robot

10:00 Starting Input Logic

14:01 Finding Product-Market Fit

24:34 Building a Great Product Studio

27:43 Hiring and Retaining Talent

28:36 Finding the Right Clients

30:10 Sweet Spot for Revenue

31:14 Aligning Craft with Business Constraints

33:09 Launching and Iterating on Products

34:18 Growth and Feedback

39:02 Equity Deals

40:26 Favorite Books

42:13 Personal Excitement for the Year

45:57 Professional Goals for the Year

46:07 Dealing with Hard Times

49:25 Passion for Canadian Founders