David Lieb, a product visionary with a rich background at Google and Y Combinator, shares invaluable insights on product management. He discusses common mistakes startups make regarding product-market fit and stresses the importance of individual user data over aggregate statistics. David reveals his journey from founding Bump to leading Google Photos, emphasizing the need for authentic team dynamics and the right hiring practices. He also explains how product management should balance customer feedback with a clear product vision.

David Lieb, co-founder of Bump and product lead for Google Photos, shares his inspiring entrepreneurial journey. He discusses the hurdles he faced while building Bump, which boasted 150 million users but failed to become sustainable. Instead of giving up, he pivoted, leading to the success of Google Photos. David also opens up about his personal health crisis during COVID, reflecting on the power of memories and life’s purpose, and his decision to mentor future entrepreneurs, emphasizing resilience and adaptability.

In this engaging discussion, Shreyas Doshi, David Lieb, Marty Cagan, and Kayvon Beykpour share their extensive expertise in product leadership. They break down the three types of product leaders—operators, craftspersons, and visionaries—highlighting the importance of hiring a Chief Product Officer at the right time. The conversation dives into crafting effective hiring processes, evaluating candidates based on experience versus potential, and the balance between domain expertise and product skills. Their insights are invaluable for any startup aiming for growth!

David Lieb, a Group Partner at Y Combinator and former lead at Bump and Google Photos, dives into the vital concept of cohort retention for startups. He explains how tracking user return rates can gauge product success early on. Lieb breaks down methods for defining user cohorts and emphasizes the importance of measuring engagement trends. By understanding these metrics, entrepreneurs can refine their strategies to improve user experiences and drive growth.

In this episode we’re talking to David Lieb, creator of Google Photos. Back in 2009, YC funded his startup, Bump Technologies, which had a cool technology where you transferred your contact info from one person to another by literally bumping phones. He’ll share Bump’s ups and downs as they went from business school side hustle to hot new iOS app. He’ll talk about getting acquired by Google and ultimately transforming Bump into the wildly popular Google Photos. David recently came back to Y Combinator as a visiting group partner.