How Apollo Builds Product

Hi, I’m Matt Lincoln from Apollo.io. It’s no secret that “product” can mean a lot of different things at different companies. Today I'm thrilled to peel back the curtain and share insights into our unique approach to product development. 

The Power of Impact and Agency As an Apollo PM

Embarking on Apollo's journey over the past three years has been like a rocket launch. We've witnessed our revenue skyrocket by 900%, propelled ourselves from Series A to Series D, and watched our team expand at warp speed from less than 100 to 500+. This stellar ascent is deeply anchored in a culture that not only values impact and autonomy but also thrives on navigating the vast expanse of challenges and the risky unknown. 

In the cockpit of product management at Apollo, you're not just a passenger; you're the pilot. You're given the autonomy to chart your course, drafting the mission charter that outlines the trajectory of your product's journey. This autonomy extends to identifying the most critical challenges that lie in the uncharted territories of the market, determining which problems are worth the fuel or ones that are not worth the trip. 

Identifying Our Focus

At the core of Apollo's product strategy lies a forward-looking vision. This involves a careful examination of market trends, our products performance, and our customers to identify critical challenges and opportunities. For emerging products still carving out their market niche, we adopt a more agile stance, making strategic short-term bets within a six-month horizon to ensure rapid iteration. 

As for our established products, where market fit is a given, we lay down a visionary six-month roadmap that goes beyond mere feature enhancements. This roadmap serves as a comprehensive plan for how we foresee our products evolving to not only maintain but also extend their market lead and contribute to Apollo's overarching goals. This dual approach ensures that our product development is visionary, anticipatory of future needs and trends and exceeds current customer expectations, thereby securing Apollo's leadership in the GTM landscape.

Cross-Team Collaboration

At Apollo, we're not just building tools; we're shaping the future of GTM. This journey is not only about solving problems but also about turning visionary customer dreams into tangible realities. Our method? Outcome-focused product squads that embody our core values and drive innovation. 

Our product development thrives on synchronization and early collaboration across teams. Through quarterly planning and prioritizing the most critical initiatives, we ensure every team member is aligned and focused. We tackle challenges head-on, setting ambitious six-month goals, breaking these down into quarterly objectives, and working backwards to remove any obstacles. This collaborative all-for-one spirit ensures we deliver products that our customers love, without the burden of organizational complexities.

The Structure of Our Product Teams

Imagine our product team as a sturdy chair, supported by four essential legs: Product, Engineering, Design, and Research. Each leg is crucial; without one, the chair—and our goals—would topple. As product managers at Apollo, we're here to serve and support, stepping in to bolster any leg facing undue pressure. At Apollo we hold the belief that momentum is the biggest maker and breaker of great products. What sets us apart is our investment into research to ensure that our products are well equipped to being on the shortest most likely path to becoming the most lovable in the market. 

Resolving Disagreements with a Unified Framework

At Apollo, we embrace diverse perspectives as a source of strength and innovation. When disagreements arise, we don't shy away from them; instead, we engage in constructive dialogue, guided by finding a common ground through frameworks like RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) to evaluate our options objectively. This method ensures that every discussion is data-driven, with a clear focus on what best advances us toward Apollo's overarching goals. By openly discussing the inputs and potential outcomes from common ground, our squads align on decisions that resonate with our north star, ensuring that every step we take is a step forward together all-for-one.

Interested in Joining the Team?

If you're excited about making a tangible impact and thrive in a fast-paced, innovative environment, we'd love to hear from you. Check out our open roles and consider joining our mission to redefine GTM