How we do product planning at Lightdash

Lightdash, an early-stage company, has refined its product planning process to accommodate the rapid changes typical of startups. Initially, they struggled with rigid, long-term planning that often became obsolete, but they found success with a six-week planning cycle inspired by Supabase's launch strategy. This cycle involves an initial phase of extensive planning and ideation, where they use frameworks like RICE to prioritize ideas, followed by a series of flexible breakout sessions to refine those ideas. Once priorities are set, they kick off a six-week work period where features are developed and released as they're ready. Leading up to Demo Week, the team prepares supporting content and ensures everything is ready for demonstration. Demo Week is followed by a period of rest and reflection to assess the effectiveness of the cycle and identify areas for improvement. This approach has enabled Lightdash to maintain productivity and adaptability, successfully aligning their planning with the dynamic nature of startup environments.