Founder-Led Product Thinking: Building Ventures, Not Just Features
Forum
Founder-Led Product Thinking: Building Ventures, Not Just Features
19 May, 11:40 - 12:15 (Europe/Berlin) - Discovery Stage
19 May, 09:40 - 10:15 (UTC)
Product Direction
UXDX EMEA 2025
This session explores how adopting a Founder-Led Product Thinking approach helps teams validate ideas, align early sales efforts with product strategy, and create scalable ventures. Led by Lisa Gerkens who will also share her perspective on navigating investments, spin-offs, and early-stage product-market fit—mindsets that every product leader should embrace.
Key Discussion Points:
- How to integrate validation, market signals, and scalability into product decisions.
- What it means to approach product development with a venture-building mindset.
- How to navigate stakeholder buy-in, early sales efforts, and funding conversations—even inside an established company.
- Shifting from an execution role to making strategic, business-impacting decisions.

Lisa Gerkens, Lead Product Strategy, China Office Lead,Forward31 | by Porsche Digital