Matt Watson
@mattwatsonkc.bsky.social
Founder/CTO for 20 years, Bootstrapped a SaaS company to a 9 figure exit, CEO of Full Scale, Teaching People to Scale Engineering teams
From a $1B valuation to being "flipped off" as tech startup Flip is officially gone.
Friendly reminder that raising capital and valuations in no way correlates to success.
I wonder how often they used the flip off emoji on the way out?
Friendly reminder that raising capital and valuations in no way correlates to success.
I wonder how often they used the flip off emoji on the way out?
September 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
From a $1B valuation to being "flipped off" as tech startup Flip is officially gone.
Friendly reminder that raising capital and valuations in no way correlates to success.
I wonder how often they used the flip off emoji on the way out?
Friendly reminder that raising capital and valuations in no way correlates to success.
I wonder how often they used the flip off emoji on the way out?
My 16 year old is learning the hard lessons fast. 😂
What should I make him do next?
What should I make him do next?
September 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
My 16 year old is learning the hard lessons fast. 😂
What should I make him do next?
What should I make him do next?
This team built what they wanted to build.
Not what users needed.
They got so focused on technical excellence.
They forgot to make it useful.
Maybe you should get Product Driven before spending $300k on features no one asked for 👉 buff.ly/ep3Ie83
Not what users needed.
They got so focused on technical excellence.
They forgot to make it useful.
Maybe you should get Product Driven before spending $300k on features no one asked for 👉 buff.ly/ep3Ie83
August 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This team built what they wanted to build.
Not what users needed.
They got so focused on technical excellence.
They forgot to make it useful.
Maybe you should get Product Driven before spending $300k on features no one asked for 👉 buff.ly/ep3Ie83
Not what users needed.
They got so focused on technical excellence.
They forgot to make it useful.
Maybe you should get Product Driven before spending $300k on features no one asked for 👉 buff.ly/ep3Ie83
"Uber Eats" for a laptop?
I think they need a new service name. 😂
They should call it Uber Nerds.
I think they need a new service name. 😂
They should call it Uber Nerds.
August 14, 2025 at 10:34 PM
"Uber Eats" for a laptop?
I think they need a new service name. 😂
They should call it Uber Nerds.
I think they need a new service name. 😂
They should call it Uber Nerds.
Well, this happened.
Product Driven hit #1 on Amazon in 4 categories over the weekend!
Thank you for believing engineering teams deserve better than disconnected ticket-taking.
Now, it's time to transform how we build 😉➡️ buff.ly/jIjgW0k 📗
Product Driven hit #1 on Amazon in 4 categories over the weekend!
Thank you for believing engineering teams deserve better than disconnected ticket-taking.
Now, it's time to transform how we build 😉➡️ buff.ly/jIjgW0k 📗
July 21, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Well, this happened.
Product Driven hit #1 on Amazon in 4 categories over the weekend!
Thank you for believing engineering teams deserve better than disconnected ticket-taking.
Now, it's time to transform how we build 😉➡️ buff.ly/jIjgW0k 📗
Product Driven hit #1 on Amazon in 4 categories over the weekend!
Thank you for believing engineering teams deserve better than disconnected ticket-taking.
Now, it's time to transform how we build 😉➡️ buff.ly/jIjgW0k 📗
Most teams hit “deploy” and celebrate—like high-fiving at halftime. 🚫
Real wins come after users tell us the release mattered. Same for books.
Product Driven drops today. Grab your copy + bonus toolkit at buff.ly/hFR2Pqi and let me know which feedback-loop idea you’ll test in Monday’s stand-up.
Real wins come after users tell us the release mattered. Same for books.
Product Driven drops today. Grab your copy + bonus toolkit at buff.ly/hFR2Pqi and let me know which feedback-loop idea you’ll test in Monday’s stand-up.
July 17, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Most teams hit “deploy” and celebrate—like high-fiving at halftime. 🚫
Real wins come after users tell us the release mattered. Same for books.
Product Driven drops today. Grab your copy + bonus toolkit at buff.ly/hFR2Pqi and let me know which feedback-loop idea you’ll test in Monday’s stand-up.
Real wins come after users tell us the release mattered. Same for books.
Product Driven drops today. Grab your copy + bonus toolkit at buff.ly/hFR2Pqi and let me know which feedback-loop idea you’ll test in Monday’s stand-up.
Your devs aren’t the bottleneck anymore.
So why is your process still built like they are?
AI sped up delivery. Now the real constraint is clarity.
If you’re still treating requirements like paperwork, you’re already behind.
🟢 Get the full article: buff.ly/SA9UhYh
So why is your process still built like they are?
AI sped up delivery. Now the real constraint is clarity.
If you’re still treating requirements like paperwork, you’re already behind.
🟢 Get the full article: buff.ly/SA9UhYh
July 10, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Your devs aren’t the bottleneck anymore.
So why is your process still built like they are?
AI sped up delivery. Now the real constraint is clarity.
If you’re still treating requirements like paperwork, you’re already behind.
🟢 Get the full article: buff.ly/SA9UhYh
So why is your process still built like they are?
AI sped up delivery. Now the real constraint is clarity.
If you’re still treating requirements like paperwork, you’re already behind.
🟢 Get the full article: buff.ly/SA9UhYh
We need to stop all of these mega mergers and acquisitions. We don't want "Buy n Large" to own everything in this world.
Private equity is also destroying many of the best companies in this world.
Private equity is also destroying many of the best companies in this world.
July 9, 2025 at 8:27 PM
We need to stop all of these mega mergers and acquisitions. We don't want "Buy n Large" to own everything in this world.
Private equity is also destroying many of the best companies in this world.
Private equity is also destroying many of the best companies in this world.
If your engineers can’t describe your user without a doc, your product is already off track.
Clarence Tan built a kids’ game 10M+ love by doing one thing better than most founders:
He listened.
Read about it here → buff.ly/TkJyoMR
Clarence Tan built a kids’ game 10M+ love by doing one thing better than most founders:
He listened.
Read about it here → buff.ly/TkJyoMR
July 3, 2025 at 7:05 PM
If your engineers can’t describe your user without a doc, your product is already off track.
Clarence Tan built a kids’ game 10M+ love by doing one thing better than most founders:
He listened.
Read about it here → buff.ly/TkJyoMR
Clarence Tan built a kids’ game 10M+ love by doing one thing better than most founders:
He listened.
Read about it here → buff.ly/TkJyoMR
Who wants to fix this?
It's like hiring a mechanic or plumber. They probably charge double if you already tried to fix it yourself. 😂
It's like hiring a mechanic or plumber. They probably charge double if you already tried to fix it yourself. 😂
June 17, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Who wants to fix this?
It's like hiring a mechanic or plumber. They probably charge double if you already tried to fix it yourself. 😂
It's like hiring a mechanic or plumber. They probably charge double if you already tried to fix it yourself. 😂
Why is the goal to remove all color from this world?
The trend has been going on for years in modern design.
But now Apple has decided to go to "liquid glass?"
Boring and bland. Not a fan.
The trend has been going on for years in modern design.
But now Apple has decided to go to "liquid glass?"
Boring and bland. Not a fan.
June 9, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Why is the goal to remove all color from this world?
The trend has been going on for years in modern design.
But now Apple has decided to go to "liquid glass?"
Boring and bland. Not a fan.
The trend has been going on for years in modern design.
But now Apple has decided to go to "liquid glass?"
Boring and bland. Not a fan.
7 years ago: "Let's build an offshore dev team that doesn't suck"
Today: 300+ developers and big vivacious celebrations like our summer party
The secret to great offshore teams isn't just technical skills.
It's treating people like humans.
Today: 300+ developers and big vivacious celebrations like our summer party
The secret to great offshore teams isn't just technical skills.
It's treating people like humans.
June 9, 2025 at 8:50 PM
7 years ago: "Let's build an offshore dev team that doesn't suck"
Today: 300+ developers and big vivacious celebrations like our summer party
The secret to great offshore teams isn't just technical skills.
It's treating people like humans.
Today: 300+ developers and big vivacious celebrations like our summer party
The secret to great offshore teams isn't just technical skills.
It's treating people like humans.
Most CTOs think culture is a nice-to-have.
I think it's everything.
When your dev team celebrates your company's birthday like it's their own birthday, you've built something special.
7 years of Full Scale. Wouldn't trade this team for anything 💚
I think it's everything.
When your dev team celebrates your company's birthday like it's their own birthday, you've built something special.
7 years of Full Scale. Wouldn't trade this team for anything 💚
June 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Most CTOs think culture is a nice-to-have.
I think it's everything.
When your dev team celebrates your company's birthday like it's their own birthday, you've built something special.
7 years of Full Scale. Wouldn't trade this team for anything 💚
I think it's everything.
When your dev team celebrates your company's birthday like it's their own birthday, you've built something special.
7 years of Full Scale. Wouldn't trade this team for anything 💚
If it can be null, it will be null. Or NaN.
It's the number one problem in software and yet we keep making it.
Why don't software engineers validate data?!?
Assume everything is always wrong!
It's the number one problem in software and yet we keep making it.
Why don't software engineers validate data?!?
Assume everything is always wrong!
May 3, 2025 at 7:05 PM
If it can be null, it will be null. Or NaN.
It's the number one problem in software and yet we keep making it.
Why don't software engineers validate data?!?
Assume everything is always wrong!
It's the number one problem in software and yet we keep making it.
Why don't software engineers validate data?!?
Assume everything is always wrong!
What happens when your engineers never meet the user?
Anton Zaides flew halfway across the world (and piloted a $30K drone) to find out.
Anton Zaides flew halfway across the world (and piloted a $30K drone) to find out.
May 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM
What happens when your engineers never meet the user?
Anton Zaides flew halfway across the world (and piloted a $30K drone) to find out.
Anton Zaides flew halfway across the world (and piloted a $30K drone) to find out.
If you've ever thought "I could never speak at conferences," check out my latest newsletter on the thoughts holding back technical experts from the recognition they deserve.
buff.ly/EgMP9Ql
buff.ly/EgMP9Ql
April 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
If you've ever thought "I could never speak at conferences," check out my latest newsletter on the thoughts holding back technical experts from the recognition they deserve.
buff.ly/EgMP9Ql
buff.ly/EgMP9Ql
You can take the founder out of the startup...
but you can’t take the startup out of the founder.
I launched a product studio with the team we built at Full Scale.
And we’re sharing everything as we go.
If you’re in founder mode — this is for you.
but you can’t take the startup out of the founder.
I launched a product studio with the team we built at Full Scale.
And we’re sharing everything as we go.
If you’re in founder mode — this is for you.
April 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
You can take the founder out of the startup...
but you can’t take the startup out of the founder.
I launched a product studio with the team we built at Full Scale.
And we’re sharing everything as we go.
If you’re in founder mode — this is for you.
but you can’t take the startup out of the founder.
I launched a product studio with the team we built at Full Scale.
And we’re sharing everything as we go.
If you’re in founder mode — this is for you.
Get the full framework:
buff.ly/Mo7BD6L
buff.ly/Mo7BD6L
April 17, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Get the full framework:
buff.ly/Mo7BD6L
buff.ly/Mo7BD6L
Your team ships features.
But you still don’t know if they’re working.
That’s not a developer problem—it’s a systems problem.
👇 Why “done” needs a new definition:
buff.ly/JsnTM2x
But you still don’t know if they’re working.
That’s not a developer problem—it’s a systems problem.
👇 Why “done” needs a new definition:
buff.ly/JsnTM2x
April 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Your team ships features.
But you still don’t know if they’re working.
That’s not a developer problem—it’s a systems problem.
👇 Why “done” needs a new definition:
buff.ly/JsnTM2x
But you still don’t know if they’re working.
That’s not a developer problem—it’s a systems problem.
👇 Why “done” needs a new definition:
buff.ly/JsnTM2x
Engineering managers - not product owners - should run these meetings.
Check out the full article to see how this one change has transformed team productivity overnight. : buff.ly/7SazzyV
Check out the full article to see how this one change has transformed team productivity overnight. : buff.ly/7SazzyV
April 8, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Engineering managers - not product owners - should run these meetings.
Check out the full article to see how this one change has transformed team productivity overnight. : buff.ly/7SazzyV
Check out the full article to see how this one change has transformed team productivity overnight. : buff.ly/7SazzyV
Why am I writing the Product Driven book? Because of this.
This problem permeates our entire industry.
My book tells the story of why and the playbooks to solve it.
This problem permeates our entire industry.
My book tells the story of why and the playbooks to solve it.
April 5, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Why am I writing the Product Driven book? Because of this.
This problem permeates our entire industry.
My book tells the story of why and the playbooks to solve it.
This problem permeates our entire industry.
My book tells the story of why and the playbooks to solve it.
Check out my full article on why this matters for your engineering team: buff.ly/GW6SRTr
April 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Check out my full article on why this matters for your engineering team: buff.ly/GW6SRTr
Check out my full newsletter to see how this mindset shift separates successful technical leaders from those who struggle. buff.ly/71GzNWt
March 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Check out my full newsletter to see how this mindset shift separates successful technical leaders from those who struggle. buff.ly/71GzNWt
Engineers build products.
Founders build businesses.
This transformation is brutal.
I know because I've lived it. ⬇️
Founders build businesses.
This transformation is brutal.
I know because I've lived it. ⬇️
March 27, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Engineers build products.
Founders build businesses.
This transformation is brutal.
I know because I've lived it. ⬇️
Founders build businesses.
This transformation is brutal.
I know because I've lived it. ⬇️