Engaging a CPO as Early as Possible: Why This is Founder’s New Hack?

When I think about startups in their early days, tasked with one critical goal—to create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)— I often wonder why startups assume they need only a visionary founder and a CTO. It might seem logical: the founder provides the vision, and the CTO leads a team to lay the technical foundation. This approach may suffice if the startup is simply replicating another successful business model. In theory, that’s enough to create an MVP, right? However, real-world experience and the challenges faced by many startups tell a different story.

The term MVP—“Minimal Viable Product”—sounds straightforward. It’s minimal; how hard can it be? Statistics show that 91.3% of businesses have launched a product using the MVP approach, yet, the reality is far more complex and discovering these challenges too late can be detrimental to founders' progress. Some startups get stuck in the MVP stage for years, unable to progress. Even technical founders who have successfully built MVPs for clients in a matter of weeks struggle to do the same for their own startups. Worse still, some founders pour their personal resources, including time and finances, into their startups for years, without achieving meaningful traction or even understanding what constitutes an MVP.

This article is born out of observing such struggles and aims to emphasize why engaging a Chief Product Officer (CPO) early is not just beneficial but essential. While the broader role of a CPO throughout a startup’s lifecycle is invaluable, this piece focuses on their underestimated role in the early stages.

Why Founders Delay Hiring a CPO

It’s common for startups to prioritize hiring a CTO over a CPO. Founders believe they can handle product development responsibilities themselves by providing direct instructions to the technical team. This approach often stems from outdated advice that a founder’s vision alone is sufficient to guide product development at early stages. Additionally, there’s a misconception that a CPO adds unnecessary bureaucracy, slowing down progress.

In reality, these beliefs couldn’t be further from the truth. Engaging a CPO early can set the pace for product development, strategically adjust MVP scope, and align priorities for maximum validation and testing benefits.

Experience alone does not make a team successful — soft skills such as “entrepreneurial passion” and “shared strategic vision” are required as well.

Harvard Business Review

The Role of a CPO at the MVP Stage

At the MVP stage, a CPO’s contributions are transformative:

• Strategic MVP Scope Definition: A CPO helps determine the minimal yet impactful features necessary for testing and validation, avoiding feature bloat that can delay progress.
• User-Centric Design: By focusing on user needs and feedback, a CPO ensures the product aligns with market demands, increasing the likelihood of achieving product-market fit.
• Streamlined Development: A CPO organizes priorities and guides the technical team preventing burnouts and endless back and forth communication, ensuring efficient use of resources and reducing time to market.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Acting as a bridge between the founder’s vision and the technical team, lays the foundation for acquiring initial customers and aligns the marketing team with the startup's stage, a CPO fosters alignment and accelerates execution.

Lessons from Startups That Delayed Hiring a CPO

Startups that delay or forego hiring a CPO often face significant challenges:

1. Misalignment with Market Needs: Without a product leader, startups risk building features that don’t resonate with their target audience.
2. Inefficient Resource Allocation: Development efforts may focus on non-essential features, leading to wasted time and resources.
3. Prolonged MVP Stage: Without a CPO’s strategic oversight, startups can remain stuck in the MVP stage, unable to validate or iterate effectively.

Industry Insights Supporting Early CPO Engagement

• Accelerated Growth: Research shows that startups with a CPO onboard faster revenue growth. A CPO’s strategic guidance ensures alignment with market demands and drives innovation.
• Improved Team Dynamics: CPOs help teams embrace their purpose, aligning individual contributions with the startup’s roadmap.
• Enhanced Product-Market Fit: CPOs bring expertise in defining and executing product strategies, ensuring the MVP resonates with users.

A well-rounded team—comprising both a CTO and a CPO—is far better equipped to navigate the complexities of early-stage product development and set the foundation for scalable growth.

In conclusion, the role of a CPO is not an unnecessary layer but a strategic necessity. Founders, investors, and advisors should recognize the transformative impact a CPO can bring to a startup’s journey, particularly during the pivotal MVP stage. Engaging a CPO early isn’t just a good idea; it’s a startup success hack. If you’re a founder, consider how a CPO could accelerate your journey to success.