MIT Enterprise Forum DC Mentor Series Event Refraction, Reston, VA Introduction The ability to create profitable products is vital for companies that want to remain competitive. Doing this in a consistent way requires a deep understanding of customer needs and wants, the competitive environment, and the nature of the market. Companies with the best track record of consistently creating successful products have adopted the role of product management. Hector Del Castillo discusses why it’s important for companies to establish a product management process and build high-performing cross-functional product teams to create a competitive advantage by consistently making great products that customers demand. Key Takeaways • Why implementing a product management process is critical. • Understand the difference between product management and product development. • Identify the greatest obstacles to successful products. • Know key factors that play a critical role in developing successful products. About Hector Del Castillo Hector is a Certified Product Manager (CPM®) and Certified Product Marketing Manager (CPMM®). He earned M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of Texas at El Paso and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso. Hector helps founders, entrepreneurs, inventors, makers, investors, business leaders and community leaders connect, share, and learn from each other to create products customers love. Connect with Hector: http://linkd.in/hdelcastillo. Upcoming Courses Business Model Deep Dive March 31st, 2015 – Refraction, Reston, VA http://bit.ly/1zOLRVF Certified Product Manager® Prep Course April 20-21, 2015 – Teqcorner, McLean, VA http://bit.ly/1zaqJJc Certified Product Marketing Manager® Prep Course April 22-23, 2015 – Teqcorner, McLean, VA http://bit.ly/1EfcSEF Upcoming Events Startups Central: 1-on-1 Business Planning Session, Tuesday, March 10th, Teqcorner, McLean Set up a 30-minute appointment to discuss options to overcome your specific business challenges. RSVP: http://bit.ly/1KQIO6x. Startups Central: Small Biz Round Table: “Acquiring Customers”, Tuesday, March 17th, Launch Workplaces, Gaithersburg Join discussion regarding options for acquiring and retaining customers. RSVP: http://bit.ly/1JouS6B. Need help transforming your ideas into products customers love? Connect with me on LinkedIn and let me show you how I can help you. http://linkd.in/hdelcastillo

1. Connect: http://linkd.in/hdelcastillo © 2015, Hector Del Castillo, All Rights Reserved. Follow: @hmdelcastillo
Mentor Series Program:
The Path To Successful Products
Introduction
The ability to create profitable products is vital for companies that want to remain competitive. Doing this in a
consistent way requires a deep understanding of customer needs and wants, the competitive environment, and
the nature of the market. Companies with the best track record of consistently creating successful products
have adopted the role of product management.
Hector Del Castillo discusses why it’s important for companies to establish a product management process
and build high-performing cross-functional product teams to create a competitive advantage by consistently
making great products that customers demand.
1. Embrace process.
2. Solve the right market problem.
3. Test your business model.
4. Focus on customer creation.
5. Develop quickly and responsibly.
6. Customers decide what’s MVP.
7. Use metrics to persevere or pivot.
About Hector Del Castillo
Hector is a Certified Product Manager (CPM®
) and Certified Product Marketing Manager (CPMM®
). He earned
M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara and the University of
Texas at El Paso and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Hector helps founders, entrepreneurs, inventors, makers, investors, business leaders and community leaders
connect, share, and learn from each other to create products customers love. Connect with Hector:
http://linkd.in/hdelcastillo.
Slideshare: http://slidesha.re/1zWUVrB Handout (pdf):
Upcoming Courses
Business Model Deep Dive
March 31st, 2015 – Refraction, Reston, VA
http://bit.ly/1zOLRVF
Certified Product Manager® Prep Course
April 20-21, 2015 – Teqcorner, McLean, VA
http://bit.ly/1zaqJJc
Certified Product Marketing Manager® Prep Course
April 22-23, 2015 – Teqcorner, McLean, VA
http://bit.ly/1EfcSEF
Upcoming Events
Startups Central: 1-on-1 Business Planning Session,
Tuesday, March 10th, Teqcorner, McLean
Set up a 30-minute appointment to discuss options to
overcome your specific business challenges.
RSVP: http://bit.ly/1KQIO6x.
Startups Central: Small Biz Round Table: “Acquiring
Customers”, Tuesday, March 17
th
, Launch Workplaces
Join discussion regarding options for acquiring and
retaining customers.
RSVP: http://bit.ly/1JouS6B.
Coders & Startups: Customer Development
Framework, Wednesday, March 25
th
, Reston
Community Center
RSVP: http://bit.ly/1CqSUKk
Dolphin Tank Pitch Sessions, Thursday, March 26
th
,
Launch Workplaces, Gaithersburg
RSVP: http://bit.ly/1wHiyZH