The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20Product: On Running's CPO on How to Create Emotion Through Product | Why 99% of Products Fail and How to Create Cults Around Products | The Biggest Product Mistakes On Have Made & Lessons Learned with Gérald Marolf
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Dec 19, 2025 
Gérald Marolf, Chief Product Officer at On Running, brings a wealth of experience from brands like Microsoft and Ferrari. He discusses why many great products fail to evoke emotion and shares lessons learned from his journey. Gérald emphasizes the risks of physical vs digital products, argues that 'simple design' can be misleading, and admits that listening to customers too much can lead to mistakes. He reflects on brand personality, the importance of timing in product launches, and names intriguing future collaborators.
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Emotion Is The Core Of Great Product
- Great products create emotion by provoking curiosity and a sense of ownership in users.
- Gérald compares this to perfume and small irrational UX details that trigger attachment.
Ship Decisively For Physical Products
- Iterate faster in digital because you can change the experience immediately and de-risk experiments.
- For physical products, decide and let go early because once it's shipped you cannot alter it quickly.
Simplicity Can Limit Differentiation
- Simplicity isn't always a breakthrough; it reduces chances for storytelling and word-of-mouth.
- Complex products offer more room for users to explore, learn and become experts.