{"id":19441,"date":"2021-03-15T18:47:08","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T01:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/?p=19441"},"modified":"2021-03-15T18:47:08","modified_gmt":"2021-03-16T01:47:08","slug":"process-to-product-using-tech-to-full-advantage-with-dave-renz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/process-to-product-using-tech-to-full-advantage-with-dave-renz\/","title":{"rendered":"Process to Product: Using Tech to Full Advantage with Dave Renz"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/drenz\/\">Dave Renz<\/a> began his career working for a large company, but found his true passion to be startups. However, that time at an enterprise level company proved to be invaluable for instilling in him an abiding respect for processes.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOne of the challenges a lot of founders have is understanding the process they are embarking on and being realistic about what they need along the way.\u201d At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/tanooki-labs\/\">Tanooki Labs<\/a>, Renz has created a company that helps startups achieve all of their technology goals. The company operates as a sort of technology co-founder, utilizing a \u2018podular approach,\u2019 to effectively offer Design, Development, Product and CTO services.<\/span><\/p>\n<span class='bctt-click-to-tweet'><span class='bctt-ctt-text'><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoundersnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D19441&#038;text=%E2%80%9COne%20of%20the%20challenges%20a%20lot%20of%20founders%20have%20is%20understanding%20the%20process%20they%20are%20embarking%20on%20and%20being%20realistic%20about%20what%20they%20need%20along%20the%20way.%E2%80%9D%20-%20%40drenz&#038;via=foundersnetwork&#038;related=foundersnetwork' target='_blank'rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cOne of the challenges a lot of founders have is understanding the process they are embarking on and being realistic about what they need along the way.\u201d - @drenz <\/a><\/span><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoundersnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D19441&#038;text=%E2%80%9COne%20of%20the%20challenges%20a%20lot%20of%20founders%20have%20is%20understanding%20the%20process%20they%20are%20embarking%20on%20and%20being%20realistic%20about%20what%20they%20need%20along%20the%20way.%E2%80%9D%20-%20%40drenz&#038;via=foundersnetwork&#038;related=foundersnetwork' target='_blank' class='bctt-ctt-btn'rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Process, Renz explains, is critical for a business to be able to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/blog\/scaling-culture-tech-startups\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scale<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and at some point, as a business matures, it must firm things up. Renz believes that when people are talking about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/blog\/key-considerations-scaling-startup-expert-founders\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scaling<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, in large part what they are discussing is process. It is process which turns a new idea into something which can be structured. \u201cOne thing a startup can gain from that is sanity. When things get more process, it creates a more well-understood work environment which is better for everybody.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Renz will take a look at how technology can become a core component of developing effective processes from the very earliest stages. From running things through for potential investors, better understanding customer behavior, or just seeking to try ideas out for yourself, there are now all kinds of tools that lead to validation perfect for creating a lean startup. Renz will take a look at some of these tools, as well as what it is possible to test with them.<\/span><\/p>\n<span class='bctt-click-to-tweet'><span class='bctt-ctt-text'><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoundersnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D19441&#038;text=%E2%80%9CWhen%20things%20get%20more%20process%2C%20it%20creates%20a%20more%20well-understood%20work%20environment%20which%20is%20better%20for%20everybody.%E2%80%9D%20-%20%40drenz%20&#038;via=foundersnetwork&#038;related=foundersnetwork' target='_blank'rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cWhen things get more process, it creates a more well-understood work environment which is better for everybody.\u201d - @drenz  <\/a><\/span><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoundersnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D19441&#038;text=%E2%80%9CWhen%20things%20get%20more%20process%2C%20it%20creates%20a%20more%20well-understood%20work%20environment%20which%20is%20better%20for%20everybody.%E2%80%9D%20-%20%40drenz%20&#038;via=foundersnetwork&#038;related=foundersnetwork' target='_blank' class='bctt-ctt-btn'rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Register for <a href=\"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/function\/process-to-product-using-tech-to-full-advantage-with-dave-renz\/\">Dave Renz\u2019s technology talk<\/a> at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Founders Network<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to find out if you <a href=\"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/request\/\">qualify for a full membership<\/a> and gain actionable takeaways, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tools and techniques for validating ideas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What you need to know before starting development<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Options for building your product (a look at hiring vs. no-code vs. outsourcing)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to Expect from a good development process<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What happens after launch<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to beginning development, Renz has seen projects fail because of unreasonable expectations. \u201cTo give a coder a one-sheeter and expect to have something that works in three months\u201d is setting yourself up for failure. Yet, too often, product owners don\u2019t know how to communicate their goals. Renz will walk through what specifications are truly necessary when going into development, from design to feature sets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A major decision every company needs to make about their product is whether to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/blog\/life-as-a-startup-founder-recruiter-our-first-key-hires\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hire the team<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that builds it,\u00a0 use a no-code\/low-code option, like <a href=\"https:\/\/bubble.io\/\">Bubble.io<\/a> or find a middle ground through outsourcing. Renz takes a look at these options, what the trade-offs are and how to find the right fit for your company.<\/span><\/p>\n<span class='bctt-click-to-tweet'><span class='bctt-ctt-text'><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoundersnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D19441&#038;text=%E2%80%9CStartups%20are%20part%20of%20our%20DNA%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20who%20we%20work%20with%2C%20and%20it%20keeps%20us%20really%20excited.%E2%80%9D%20-%20%40drenz&#038;via=foundersnetwork&#038;related=foundersnetwork' target='_blank'rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cStartups are part of our DNA, it\u2019s who we work with, and it keeps us really excited.\u201d - @drenz <\/a><\/span><a href='https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoundersnetwork.com%2F%3Fp%3D19441&#038;text=%E2%80%9CStartups%20are%20part%20of%20our%20DNA%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20who%20we%20work%20with%2C%20and%20it%20keeps%20us%20really%20excited.%E2%80%9D%20-%20%40drenz&#038;via=foundersnetwork&#038;related=foundersnetwork' target='_blank' class='bctt-ctt-btn'rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Critical to finding success with a product launch is having a good development experience. Renz will define what that looks like, and how to prevent the common pitfalls. Most often this comes down to not setting the right expectations and not keeping everyone up-to-date on processes. This can lead to months of time where effectively nothing gets accomplished. To combat this, <a href=\"https:\/\/tanookilabs.com\/\">Tanooki Labs<\/a> has a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/site.tanookilabs.com\/the-tanooki-pledge\">Tanooki Pledge<\/a>,\u201d which not only outlines what they promise the client, but what they expect of the client as well. This is based on ensuring smooth communication between stakeholders and the team working on the project, making sure that expectations are understood and met on time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Renz concludes his talk by taking a look at what happens after the launch, when it\u2019s time to find new development work as well as new goals. In the time of hiring and growth, what does the technology still need from the ongoing project and from the team?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tanooki Labs is no longer a startup themselves, but they continue to function with the heart and mind of a startup. While helping clients to integrate technology and build products, they help startups to grow. \u201cStartups are part of our DNA, it\u2019s who we work with. It\u2019s the phase of company life that we\u2019re really focused on and it keeps us really excited.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dave Renz began his career working for a large company, but found his true passion to be startups. However, that time at an enterprise level company proved to be invaluable &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/process-to-product-using-tech-to-full-advantage-with-dave-renz\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":19442,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[144],"tags":[1813,10929],"table_tags":[],"class_list":["post-19441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-startup-advice","tag-new-york-city","tag-product"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.8 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Process to Product: Using Tech to Full Advantage with Dave Renz - Founders Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/process-to-product-using-tech-to-full-advantage-with-dave-renz\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Process to Product: Using Tech to Full Advantage with Dave Renz\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dave Renz began his career working for a large company, but found his true passion to be startups. 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Each month our Membership Committee admits a new cohort of full-time tech founders who are nominated by an existing member.","sameAs":["http:\/\/foundersnetwork.com","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/foundersnetwork","https:\/\/x.com\/foundersnetwork"],"url":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/author\/foundersnetwork\/"}]}},"featured_image_data":{"src":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Fn-IRL-2019-70.jpg","alt":"Dave Renz","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19441"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foundersnetwork.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=19441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}