With me, Lindsay T., Lady Engineer®, you’ll define in detail your early adopters, clarify your MVP and build your entire business based on real user feedback.
Connect with Customers → Unlock Startup Growth
With me, Lindsay T., Lady Engineer®, you’ll define in detail your early adopters, clarify your MVP and build your entire business based on real user feedback.
Connect with Customers → Unlock Startup Growth
Maybe you don’t know where to start, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. You have a great idea, but you’re stuck.
Thru the multiple lean iterations built into Labs*, you will feel confident about it all.
“Labs* is a great way for startup founders to validate that the idea they have is the one their target customers want solved and are willing to pay for. It really opened my eyes to how much one can get clouded by the excitement of their own idea and lose track of the customer’s pain points that need to be addressed.
– Regina Jaslow, Founder, GriffinHub.com
“By honing in on our core offering (photography services) we were able to land a new customer that gave a much-needed testimonial that we’ll now proudly display on our pitch decks & website. The vote of confidence from the customer-validated our concept & did wonders for me as a founder since COVID had derailed much of our momentum; it was great to get back on the right path, this time with more focus thanks to Lindsay & Labs! “
– Dan Jacob, CEO & Founder, Versa
Your biggest asset is knowing how to go from what customers say to what your business does, the messages you convey via marketing, and what software developers build.
When you enroll, Labs* drips 12 modules over the first 12-weeks. You also immediately join the private community and Weekly Q&A sessions, which support you for 6-months. Your access to the course materials never expires, and you are welcome to move through at your own pace.
Labs* is based on 6 years of tech/engineering education and 15-some years working with hundreds of startups and investors, as well as teams across Fortune 500 teams.
I designed Labs* through multiple lenses:
Short, impactful video lessons include everything you need to know to move your company forward as a lean, customer-centric startup. You’ll get access to a new module every week for 12 weeks. You retain access to course materials for the life of the program. Go at your own pace, and return as often as you need.
An upfront Individual Assessment helps you understand how to adapt the Labs* product-market fit framework to your specific needs. You’ll assess your confidence in what you already know and have accomplished to identify the areas that most need your focus during Labs*.
When you invest in Labs*, you have access to guides and templates like interview scripts, email and social messages to recruit for customer research, and survey planning. Get the exact, explicit steps to execute product management and marketing in parallel for a startup at your stage.
You get exclusive access to a private Facebook group for real-time support from me as well as past and present Labs* founders. The connections you make here and in the Q&A calls provide an extra boost to your journey. Your access continues for 6 months.
Every startup is unique! Meet with me weekly on Thursdays at 11 a.m or 7 p.m EST to ask me anything! I’m here to support you as you move through the program, helping to provide individualized advice. You’ll also have access to Q&A for 6 months post-enrollment.
You need to join this unique 12-module self-paced program that makes sure every component of your startup is sensible, scalable, and customer-validated.
Plus, you get to work with me, Lindsay T., Lady Engineer®, a Product-Market Fit Expert & Startup Tech Advisor who has been designing software since 2002 and playing the startup game since!
Erin Chen and Marzia Mura collected 240+ survey responses, captured 100+ emails, held over 60 phone calls, and reached more husbands than they were ever able to do before!
“Labs was amazing to dig deeper into validating the pain points, identify early evangelists, getting into the beginnings of a product (i.e., filling in the details between all the concept / theory that we just blindly execute on and hope for the best)... BEFORE sinking a bunch of $ or giving away equity to end up not truly creating something that the market wants.”
Erin ChenFounder, GetGilly.com
Rose Herr collected 300+ responses to her customer research survey, validating new features, and picking up 246 email addresses to add to her launch list. She said:
“I had an idea I'm passionate about but didn't know how to move things forward. The course helped me focus, and provided me with clear steps. Being able to say that I was taking concrete steps to work on my idea gave me more confidence in telling people about it.”
Rose HerrFounder of NailedIt
Santha Gokul signed a new customer after only 2 weeks in Labs*.
“For 3 years, I did several accelerator programs where there were only stories and I struggled to transition the learning into my startup. When I took Labs*, I quickly realized Labs* is not just about stories but taking founders on the journey of making it work for their startups. Being in Labs* is by far the most valuable journey for my startup and our team.”
Santha GokulFounder, Be@FourFront
Hi, there! I help founders design & sell the right product before spending too much (more!) time and money building the wrong one.
I started designing and developing software in 2002 while studying engineering at the University of Virginia. Over 15-some years, I’ve worked with over 100 startups & investors, as well as teams across Fortune 500 firms. My education is in human-computer interaction, my career mostly in digital product development (I review startups for investors, too!), and my persistent passion will always be to design technology for people.
Recently, I’ve led workshops for Chloe Capital, Founder.University (3x!), EdTechWeek, HopperX, and Venture Cafe. I’ve also had my work featured in Forbes, 500Startups and Business Insider.
I created Labs* to help founders like you masterfully piece together the entire process – from research through building the product and scaling your business – in a format that activates your capabilities in a structure you need.
Through Labs*, you will master the skills needed to confidently (1) know which customers to talk to, (2) ask the right questions to get substantial feedback, and (3) analyze the findings to identify the insights that actually matter, right now.
Customer Base
In Labs*, you’ll dig into real customer needs, instead of assumptions.
Right Messaging
You’ll identify your customers’ values, perceptions and pains in their own words, so you can use their language to connect, build relationships, and eventually, sell to them.
Best Solution
Labs* is formatted so that you design and sell the right product before spending too much (more) money on software developers.
“The way Lindsay explains things and her vision also really resonates with me. It’s an approach that I’m a lot more comfortable with than the “build it and they may come” or ” just pitch something/raise money” approach.”
– Jessica Seepersad, Founder, Klouf
…and you’ll have me as your dedicated guide, creative companion, and strategic thought partner.
”Before Labs*, my elevator pitch and marketing sounded generic and canned. Through Lindsay's exercises and lessons, I found an authentic voice to describe my idea and app. Also, Labs* helped me hone in on the MVP rather than some ambiguous, unformed concept.
Lori M.Founder, ISeeBingo (EdTech)
Our class is fully online. All lessons, resources, guides, and templates can be found in our private membership portal. Our live weekly Q&A calls happen on Zoom and the call recordings will be added to the portal. Our private discussion and support group is on Facebook. You have access to the modules for the life of the program, so you can return to the material anytime you need.
When you sign up, you can immediately get started! From your enrollment date, new course modules and topics will be released on a weekly basis for 12-weeks. Each module includes video learning, custom guides and templates, suggested resources and related readings.
The release schedule was carefully designed to optimize your outcomes for both product and marketing. However, with access for the life of the program, you can go at your own pace and take the time you need move through!
You’re invited to weekly live office hour Q&A sessions on Thursdays, with sessions offered at both 11 a.m or 7 p.m EST to make it easy for you to attend. Recordings will also be shared if you can’t join at that time (and you can submit your questions in advance for me to answer live). During these sessions, I take any questions, whether they are about the Labs* content or related to any other startup challenge you are facing. Getting direct, expert coaching in real time is invaluable.
The Labs* process orients you towards efficiency, identifying for you which activities and tasks to prioritize, and how to build the skills to get you there. The Labs* Resource library include 40+ tools, guides, templates and resources. These powerful companion guides offer you the concrete details you need to execute.
Some of these game-changing resources include:
Want guidance on how to move forward? The Labs* Resource Library provide you with step-by-step plans to keep you absolutely focused on product-market fit.
You’ll join an exclusive private Facebook group where you’ll be able to get support from current and past founders who have done Labs* or worked with me 1-on-1. I’ll be able to answer your questions there (daily!) as you move through the program. Additionally, many of the micro-learning modules link to relevant discussions in the group so you can contribute and learn from past discussions.
I will also have a secondary means for Q&A on Google Groups for those of you who prefer that.
“Labs* has clear steps, templates, processes, and feedback specific to my startup. Lindsay has amazing insight into simplification and organization.”
– Carmela Abraham, Founder of Xiggit (FinTech)
“The Labs* curriculum covers product-market fit and various other topics that ensure our products fulfill the needs and wants of the customer. We gathered that intel, then Lindsay gave us the tools to digest the findings in clear, concise, and actionable steps”
– Deirdre Horan, Founder of Dri (CPG)
“I completed a 17-month Executive Masters with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management. In my opinion the organization, content, and tools in Labs* are on par with some of the best I’ve experienced.”
– Steve Benton, Deputy Assistant Director at Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality & Part-time Founder
Labs* is a thoughtfully designed system of lean iterations with 20 chapters across 6 stages. Read below to learn more about each stage:
Customer research is the key to your growth. Labs* takes you through multiple lean iterations of research, design, test and update. After a brief overview of product management and product-market fit for preseed startups, you will be in touch with customers right away.
In this phase, you will dig into the real customer need vs the assumptions you have around it. By the end, you will have determined which customer segment presents to you the most opportunity.
A successful startup solves the right problem for their target customer. You also want to develop a feature set that true addresses the customers’ issues in a way that pleases them. Here, you will start to learn the startup’s delicate balance between product and marketing.
In this phase, you will package everything you’ve learned so far to see what resonates with a larger audience. Most founders do surveys too soon and do not design them well enough to build the right kind of momentum. Not you!
It’s time to refine and iterate on your idea or product. No matter the maturity of your solution, the skills in this phase will save you thousands in saved time and money with designers and software developers
In this stage of Labs*, you will:
Regardless of whether you have the technical expertise or not, by the end of Labs*, you will have something to sell and test with customers.
You can feel confident in joining Labs*, completely risk-free. If after 14 days of putting in the work and joining our live calls, you haven’t gotten any value from the program, simply contact team@tabasconsulting.com with a link to your completed Industry & Customer Research Tracking worksheet and you’ll receive a full refund.
“Labs* gave me extremely thorough tools to qualify and test my ideas. Before, I was uncertain about so many aspects of my new business. However, the unprecedented level of concrete detail in Lindsay's program obliterated all uncertainty and revealed a clear path forward.”
Lisa CooleyFounder & Art Advisor, Oko (Modern Art Education)
“Labs was amazing to dig deeper into validating the pain points, identify early evangelists, getting into the beginnings of a product (i.e., filling in the details between all the concept / theory that we just blindly execute on and hope for the best)... BEFORE sinking a bunch of $ or giving away equity to end up not truly creating something that the market wants.”
Erin ChenCo-Founder of Gilly (Relationship Tech)
In most startup accelerators and new business programs, you’ll learn the fundamentals of being a business owner like a business plan, financials, and legal framework. Those are all defensive tactics when you’re starting out.
Playing offense means putting yourself out there, talking to real customers, and experimenting with products and offers that will actually make your audience open their wallets.
Unlike other programs out there, by the end of Labs*, you’ll have a real framework for handling future product concerns, and the tools to continually quantify and test your ideas with actual people. These are the skills you need to scale for the long-term.
Labs* is for you if:
I love this question because this is where Labs* shines, and I know your family and friends are a bit exhausted from all of your inquiries.
In the first 4 weeks, we aggressively go after customer insights and discovery. That includes recruiting for interviews, as well as leveraging different technology platforms and communities to gather more intel and recruit people we do not yet know.
One of the beauties of being in Labs* is that you can leverage the extended community in our private Facebook group.
”I got great tips about finding information about potential customers through unconventional channels, like asking questions in reddit, Facebook groups, etc. Doing this type of research was extremely valuable and helped me immerse myself in my customer's needs.
Lori M.Founder, ISeeBingo (EdTech)
Labs* covers both strategy and tactics so that you are empowered to face product and marketing iterations long after the program ends. There are very specific, tangible outcomes that are detailed in the Labs* At a Glance section.
Here are some quick hits I’ve been asked before:
Does Labs* help with content creation?
Labs* is now accepting new founders on a rolling and ongoing basis! As soon as you enroll:
Weekly Q&A is every Thursday at 11 am & 7 pm ET. Additional Q&A time slots may be offered based on demand.
Once you’re part of Labs*, you have access to all of the course content as long as the course and website live on. I want to see you succeed for the long term!
For 6 months after enrollment, you will have access to the private Facebook group and Weekly Q&A.
In the private Facebook Group and weekly Q&A, we foster an innovation/creative brain trust. One of the things I enjoy doing is looking for synchronous and mutually beneficial opportunities amongst members.
Typical interactions include:
Additionally, we host quarterly events to facilitate 1-on-1 connections with other founders, past and present.
You will 100% feel that you have a peer group to bounce ideas off of and lean on for support.
The amount of accountability you receive is determined by your level of participation in the Weekly Q&As and the private community. While I’m not personally reviewing all of your individual materials, I do keep track of the founders that show up and interact with me and the community.
You should know, if I don’t hear from you, believe, you will hear from me!
Labs* is open to all genders and identities, and is definitely not designed exclusively for women. The last cohort in Summer 2021 was majority men.
“It's great to be around talented founders & I love the course material.”
Dan JacobFounder & CEO of Versa (Marketplace to Find Photographers)
I take on a limited number of private, 1-on-1 coaching clients that start with a 3-month commitment at $1150 per month. You can Schedule a call with me, and we’ll talk about whether (1) Labs* + a monthly 1-hour private session or (2) exclusively 1-on-1 is a better fit for you.
Short answer: No.
I have had founders with mature products and enterprise clients take Labs* because they want to refresh or beef up their customer research and product management skills.
There have been other Labs* founders who are product managers that simply want to know all of the stuff that I know in these fields.
Labs* does start with Customer Research because research and connecting with customers needs to be a constant priority through every stage and lifecycle of a company. Based on your next milestones, you can adjust your line of questioning and the information you pursue.
Labs* also starts with tools for you to assess yourself and your confidence in what you already know. It’s up to you to be honest with yourself and I will surely be honest with you when we start collaborating through the Weekly Q&A.
Have cofounders? There is a 1-time fee of $300 for each additional founder who would like to attend Labs* Q&A and join the Facebook Group. Contact team@tabasconsulting.com after your purchase to let us know you would like to add on a founder.
I’m here to make sure Labs* is a good fit for you and your startup.
Please find time to talk to me one-on-one here.
Join me in designing ourselves into the future.
“It was an amazing experience both with Lindsay but also with the other founders - especially at office hours. Listening to Lindsay answer their questions has really sparked great progress for me.”
Carmela A.Co-Founder, Xiggit & Former Sr. Director of Digital Solutions at Visa