Alberto Savoia

Alberto Savoia, Google's first engineering director and the mastermind behind AdWords, shares invaluable insights into product development. He discusses the astounding 80% failure rate of innovations, emphasizing that success hinges on building the right product, not just building it right. Savoia introduces the 'pretotyping' method for validating ideas quickly and cost-effectively. He warns against premature feedback and the risks it carries, urging entrepreneurs to seek genuine market interest before heavy investment. This conversation is a treasure trove for aspiring innovators!

In this engaging conversation, Alberto Savoia, former Google engineering director and author, dives deep into his concept of 'pretotyping'—testing ideas' desirability before committing significant resources. He shares the captivating story of the 'pretend to own' PalmPilot experiment, showcasing how real user interaction revealed true needs. Alberto also discusses the psychological barriers teams face against early testing, the importance of focusing on desirability, and how his principles apply broadly beyond software, including personal life experiments. Get ready to rethink how you validate ideas!