Product Breakthrough Services
We help you validate your product idea before you build it
INNOVATE SMARTER
The fast track to product-market fit
Have you ever spent months building a working version of your product – only to find out that it WASN’T what people wanted?
As entrepreneurs & startup coaches, we’ve learned this painful (and expensive) lesson ourselves — multiple times.
And we decided to do something about it.
We created the Product Breakthrough Method to help you visualize & validate your product ideas quickly – without needing to build code or invest in high-fidelity designs.
It’s based on our experience working on the design teams of some the biggest hits of the digital era, like The Sims, Netflix, Tetris, Replika, and Ebay.
If you want to save time, stretch your runway, & build a high-retention product FASTER – using techniques from hit games — you’re in the right place .
WHO IT’S FOR
Trusted by startups, game studios & leading brands
The Product Breakthrough Method uses techniques from the games industry, where the pace of innovation is relentless.
This method works across sectors including beauty, education, entertainment, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, technology & transportation.
Product teams at Disney, Netflix, Tesla, Google, MTV, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, the New York Times, & dozens of startups have brought their ideas to life faster with the Product Breakthrough Method.
When implemented skillfully, the Product Breakthrough Method consistently delivers actionable market insights & meaningful product breakthroughs.
And guess what? The same methods that make games engaging can make your product irresistible & tip the scales towards success. Check out some of our Product Breakthrough success stories.
Working with Amy Jo is like having a world-class product designer in your pocket
Eugenia Kuyda
CEO, Replika.ai
PRODUCTS
Shiseido
After an rocky launch, we helped the team fix retention, refine customer targeting & increase online sales.
GAMES
Covet Fashion
We helped Crowdstar design and create a hit mobile game that’s still going strong after 10+ years.
APPS
Replika
We helped AI chatbot Replika find their core audience, and boost long-term retention.
How can we help your team make product breakthroughs?
Amy Jo’s program & insights gave me practical, tangible design skills.
Gina Bianchini
CEO, Mighty Networks
Amy Jo’s MVP methodology is fantastic. The results you’ll see are a no-brainer
Ofer Leidner
President, Twill / Happify
Amy Jo has a refined, effective process for bringing new ideas to life
Blair Ethington
VP @ eBay
HOW IT WORKS
From research to testing in 4 connected sprints
After coaching dozens of startups, we’ve learned that fastest way to find product/market fit is to validate your end-to-end Journey with high-need customers. To do this, you’ll:
- identify & recruit your ideal high-need customers
- design a compelling customer journey & habit loop
- prototype your ideas with no-code end-to-end Storyboards
- test your ideas with ideal customers using those storyboards
But let’s face it – most founders don’t have the research, design & testing resources needed to accomplish this.
Our Product Breakthrough Method solves this problem, & puts the power of great product design into your hands.
DISCOVERY SPRINT
Who are my ideal customers & what do they need?
You need to find out whether there’s a real market for your product idea, and which customer needs or pain points you should address.
We’ll help you find high-need customers & understand what they need.
DESIGN SPRINT
How will my product fit into my customer’s life?
To maximize adoption, find out how your product will fit into people’s lives, & get clear on what it’s going to help them achieve.
We’ll help you design a compelling habit loop & customer journey.
STORYBOARDING SPRINT
How can I prototype my ideas without building?
To prototype your ideas, start by visualizing the key elements of your product experience that keep customers engaged over time.
We’ll help you prototype & visualize your 30-day customer experience
VALIDATION SPRINT
How can I test my idea before building it?
Once you’ve prototyped your ideas, you can run concept tests with ideal customers & find out whether you’re on the right path.
We’ll help you set up and run insightful tests with the right people.
We’ve helped dozens of teams answer these questions. How can we help you?
This program made me a better, more strategic product maker
Ian Brand
Product Innovation @ General Motors
This program got everyone on the same page, testing our assumptions
Allison Kelsey
Director of Product @ Geocaching
This program had invaluable impact on my product thinking – AND my product
Chris Swain
Professor @ USC Iovine and Young Academy
WHAT YOU GET
Everything you need to make product breakthroughs
All of our Product Breakthrough Services, include step-by step Templates, Gen-AI Plaform, Expert Coaching, and professional Creative Services.
Step-by-step TEMPLATES minimize guesswork
We’ve developed a set of powerful templates that minimize guesswork, and help you know exactly what to do every step of the way.
We have dozens of templates covering every aspect of discovery, design and testing, including:
- Write your elevator pitch
- Describe the four stages of your customer journey
- Create & run a high-learning playtest
When you’re building a new product, speed counts.
That’s why we developed the JourneyMaker, our AI-powered platform that automates many of the most difficult and time-consuming steps in early product research and development. JourneyMaker helps you:
- Write targeted customer surveys
- Extract patterns from customer interview transcripts
- Generate customer journey storyboards with GenAI
Hands-on EXPERT COACHING gives you guidance & support
Receive expert feedback & guidance with your project from Amy Jo Kim as well as from other project teams during a 12-week program.
We’ll guide you through the end-to-end process & teach you how to implement the Product Breakthrough Method.
You and your team will gain the confidence & skills to execute the steps & make major progress in a few weeks.
Breakthrough Coaching Sprint
- Gain product/market insights that cut product development costs
- Perform months worth of work in just weeks
- Meaningfully boost your chances of success
Professional CREATIVE SERVICES make us part of your team
For companies and teams that value more direct involvement from us, we also provide the Product Breakthrough Method as a bespoke service.
During 12 weeks, Amy Jo Kim and her team will work hand in hand with your team on your product.
We’re available to your team at every step, helping you get the most out of the Product Breakthrough Method.
Breakthrough Creative Services
- Execute the steps from the Product Breakthrough Method with the experts right by your side
- Exclusive focus and attention from Amy Jo Kim and her team on your product and project
- Significantly boost your chances of success
How can we help you make your next product breakthrough?
Want to use Jobs-To-Be-Done to build the right product? You’re in good hands with Amy Jo
Bob Moesta
Founder, ReWired Group
You’ve got to find your own window of opportunity. Game Thinking is your instruction manual.
Garry Tan
CEO, Ycombinator
Game Thinking is WAY better than gamification. The more I learned, the more in love I fell with it
Jared Spool
Founder, Makers of Awesomeness
WORK WITH US
Which level of service is right for you?
Our Product Breakthrough Method delivers product/market insights that save you money & boost your chances of success. We offer three levels of service:.
Product Breakthrough BOOTCAMP — for beginners who want to start using the method
Product Breakthrough SPRINT — for teams that want one-on-one coaching as they do the work
Product Breakthrough SERVICES — the full package for teams that want to move fast & have us do the heavy lifting
3-DAY EXECUTIVE WORKSHOP
Learn the Product Breakthrough Method & apply it to your own project.
Who It’s For
Founders & leaders who want to learn the Product Breakthrough Method
Duration
3 days
Timing
2X yearly (Q2 & Q4)
What you get
- Access to our Starter Templates
- 3 LIVE workshop sessions
- 20 short instructional videos
- 25-page workbook
- 1 month access to our GenAI tool to help you move aster
8-WEEK IMPLEMENTATION SPRINT
Apply the Product Breakthrough Method to your project, with coaching & support.
Who It’s For
Teams & leaders who want to implement the Product Breakthrough Method.
Duration
8 weeks
Timing
1X yearly (next session Q4 2024)
What you get
- Access to our Advanced Templates
- 40 short videos + 50-page workbook
- 2 months access to our GenAI tool
- Private Team Kickoff session
- Private team coaching sessions + Private Peer Group for extra support
LET US DO THE WORK
We’ll work with your team & implement the Product Breakthrough Method for you.
Who It’s For
Startups, studios & brands who want to leverage expertise & see results quickly.
Duration
Varies by project (4-12 weeks)
Timing
Continuous -– contact us for availability
What you get
- Private meetings (as needed)
- Private team workshops (as needed)
- Unlimited access to our templates
- Unlimited access to our GenAI tool
- We perform all of the operational work on your behalf, under your direction
Game Thinking gave me techniques to accelerate my research. Brilliant!
Amanda Taylor
Head of Insights @ (stealth)
Game Thinking gets FAR better results for our clients than Gamification
Jaxton Cheah
Gamification Coach
Game Thinking saved us from struggling through Customer Discovery on our own
Cara Meverden
Podcasts @ Apple
Who we are
Pleased to meet you 👋🏽
Amy Jo Kim
Game designer & startup coach
I’ve helped hundreds of product leaders bring ideas to life – co-designed Rock Band, The Sims, eBay, Covet Fashion, & Happify – run & sold a venture-funded startup.
Now I help innovative teams & leaders find product/market fit faster & delight customers with high-retention products & games.
Scott Kim
Educational game designer
I’m a game designer specializing in puzzles & education games. I created the puzzle modes on Tetris & Bejeweled as well as helped to create adaptive math game Mastering Math for education giant ABCmouse.com.
I’d love to help you build more entertaining & effective product & games.
Frequently Asked Questions
My team needs to find product/market fit, can this help?
YES! It’s perfect for teams who want to iterate faster & ship the right product to the right people. To learn more, get in touch
When do meetings happen?
We host weekly AMAs with hot-seat coaching & peer feedback Tue @ 9am PT. VIP level includes private coaching & services.
I’m a solopreneur – is this for me?
If you’re a funded solopreneur & work with freelancers, it might be a fit. Contact us to learn more
What is the time commitment?
We offer 3 levels of support. Your time commitment depends on your support level. Contact us to learn more
Ready for your breakthrough?
We want you to succeed. We’re ready to help you create the right product for the right people in the quickest way possible.
Book a call & let’s explore how we can support your team(s) with our Product Breakthrough Services
Not ready to chat yet? Send us a message – we’d love to hear from you.
