KitchenHub’s Post

My consultancy contract at Readly is coming to an end. What a ride it’s been! When I started helping Readly, the Product department was brand new and the Tech department was called ~ the IT-guys. The company was largely marketing-led, living from one investment round to the next, like many others. Development (right-fully) smelled a lot of start-up, Jolt cola, pizza, and heroic late nights. The app was already loved by users, but we grew and change was needed. Now, Readly is a market-leading, product-led, listed company. I am very proud to have been part of taking Readly to where it is today, especially regarding the software development. There are now code reviews, agile methodology, continuous integration, feature flags, use of modern frameworks and languages, tailored platforms for quicker iterations and serving dynamic experiences, and much more. None the least within the Android team/guild/club/cult, with my amazing sisters and brothers, where I’ve had at least one foot all of the time. On top of that, we now have true cross-functional product teams, led by trios (Product manager, Tech lead, Senior designer) with high autonomy; set up for iteratively doing product discovery, user research, development, deployment, A/B testing, etc. Those who know me, can you confirm that I am passionate about these things? 😅 To build a great product, to make impact. It hasn’t always been a straight path. Two steps forward, one step back. Lots of learnings along the way. Coming down to the most important thing.. 🥁 Readly’s biggest asset, IMO.. 🥁 The wonderful and talented people of Readly, past and present, on site and remote. You know who you are ❤️❤️❤️ (non mentioned, non forgotten). They say culture eats process for breakfast, but what’s even greater? The contagious Readly spirit! It’s some rare and magic thing, yeasting on the ambitious, loving, caring, and mostly funny 😆 humoristic attitudes of the Readly people, never dying. Probably started in some late night pizza topping in Växjö 10 years ago or so. It can’t be bought from 3rd party suppliers, so take care of it! But it can grow (like sourdough). I will for sure bring a piece for growing in my future adventures, never forgetting its origin, you. In an extra sweet spot of my heart is of course the Disco team 🪩💃🕺(Discover content), where I’ve been Tech leading. I’ve been called Minimum Viable Police, among other names.. Disco is probably the best team in the world. And it will continue like that. I’m immensely proud of you gals and guys. To all of Readly, including alumni, from all of my heart, thank you so much for everything 🙏❤️🙌 official and in-official 🤐😆. Don’t be strangers, I won’t. Not goodbye, let’s stay in touch! /Daniel

"Lessons from 3 Years in a Startup: Team Matters More Than Technology" I’ve had the privilege of working in a startup for the past 3 years, and while the experience has been filled with learning and growth, it also opened my eyes to one major realization: a strong team is everything. We often get so focused on completing the technical tasks—especially backend development—that we assume the project is done once that piece is finished. But that’s not true. In my journey, I saw firsthand how: 💡 Poor communication among team members can lead to misaligned goals and unmet deadlines. 💻 Backend development was treated as the final goal, even though the frontend and user experience were left unfinished or rushed. 🚧 Lack of collaboration between different departments—developers, designers, and product managers—meant the project never reached its full potential. While the work itself was challenging and pushed me to grow, the biggest hurdle was the team dynamic. Without proper communication, collaboration, and shared vision, no project can truly succeed, no matter how good the technology is. This experience taught me that a strong, united team is far more important than the perfect codebase. As I move forward in my career, I’m seeking opportunities in environments where teamwork, collaboration, and leadership are just as valued as technical expertise. 💪 To anyone building or joining a startup, remember: Your product is only as strong as your team. #StartupLife #LessonsLearned #TeamworkMatters #Collaboration #TechCareer #DeveloperLife #GrowthJourney #Leadership #BetterTogether #CareerGrowth #MERNStack #FrontendDevelopment #UIUX #ReactJS

🌟 As a tech CEO, I've discovered that fostering creativity isn't about grand gestures - it's about creating small, daily opportunities for innovation. Here's what's working for our team at Ukvalley Software: 💡 The "No Bad Ideas" Morning Standup Started implementing this 3 months ago. Every team member shares one wild idea about improving our current projects. Result? Our MERN stack team proposed a feature that cut development time by 40%. 🎯 Cross-Pollination Sessions Frontend meets backend. UI/UX meets development. When our designer Radhika collaborated with our app developer Valeed, they revolutionized our React Native interface approach. 🔄 Rotation Challenges Every Friday, developers step into different roles. A backend developer spends time understanding UI/UX, while our tester explores development perspectives. This has dramatically improved our code quality and reduced bugs. 🛠️ Real Example: Last month, during our project retrospective, our newest team member spotted a pattern none of us had seen. Instead of dismissing it as "rookie thinking," we implemented their suggestion. Result? Project delivery time improved by 25%. The Secret Sauce? - Create psychological safety - Celebrate failed experiments as learning opportunities - Give ownership, not just tasks - Mix different expertise levels on projects - Make time for exploration Remember: Innovation isn't about having the perfect process. It's about creating an environment where people aren't afraid to think differently. Leading a tech team has taught me that the best ideas often come from unexpected places - we just need to be brave enough to listen. What's your approach to fostering creativity in your team? Share your experiences below 👇 #Leadership #Innovation #SoftwareDevelopment #TeamManagement #TechLeadership #StartupLife #CreativeThinking #TechIndia

🚀 Tech Kitchen 1.0 Applications Closing Soon! 🚀 Application link: https://tally.so/r/31vM9W Techies, this is your last chance to be part of something BIG! 🚨 Tap into the future of tech by joining Tech Kitchen 1.0, where innovation meets opportunity. Apply now via the link/QR code (in the image) to secure your spot before the deadline! 🕑 Why should you apply? Let’s break it down: ✅ Code for Equity: Work on real-world projects with high-impact potential and earn equity in disruptive technologies. ✅ Collaborate with Top Tech Minds: You'll be working alongside an incredible team of developers, DevOps engineers, product designers, and more to build projects that change the game. ✅ Build Your Portfolio: Contribute to projects that will make your portfolio stand out to employers and investors alike. ✅ Career Support: Our vibrant community is committed to helping you grow, with resources and support to help you land that next big career move. Don’t miss out on this golden opportunity! Jump on the link/QR code now and get your seat in Tech Kitchen 1.0 before it’s too late. NOTE: You will be automatically added to our slack workspace once you apply through the link. https://tally.so/r/31vM9W #collaborate #github #project #ideas #learn #grow #build #programming #coding #softwaredevelopment #softwaredevelopers #connections #networks #bookme #technology #innovation #softwares #create #creativity #letsbuild #selfdevelopment #contribute #entrepreneurs #join #partners #equityseekingentrepreneurs #equity #entertainment #ecommerce #climate #nature #environment #sustainability

How My Experience as a Product Manager Shapes My Backend Development Mindset 🚀 When I transitioned from managing products to writing Python code full-time, I thought I was leaving one world behind. But in reality, my product mindset became my biggest asset as a backend developer. Here’s why: 1️⃣ I think about business goals, not just code. Every line of code is written with a clear understanding of its purpose and value to the business, just like when I prioritized features as a PM. 2️⃣ Collaboration is key. As a PM, I worked closely with engineers, designers, and stakeholders. Now, as a developer, I continue to collaborate with cross-functional teams to build effective solutions. 3️⃣ Scaling is about the right foundation. My PM experience taught me to balance speed with long-term goals. In backend development, this means building scalable systems from the start. 4️⃣ User experience matters. As a PM, the user experience was always my focus. Now, I ensure the backend contributes to a seamless experience by designing intuitive APIs. 5️⃣ I take ownership. Just like I did as a PM, I take full ownership of the product lifecycle — from development to deployment — ensuring it aligns with business objectives. Combining my product management experience with backend development allows me to bridge the gap between technical execution and business goals. What skills from your past roles have influenced your development career? Share your experiences in the comments, or if you're navigating a similar transition and want to chat more, feel free to connect with me! #backenddevelopment #python #productmanagement #startup #developerjourney #techcareers

🤔 Can you see yourself in this scenario? Sarah is a software engineer at a growing tech startup. She's working on a critical feature for an upcoming product launch, juggling several tasks from coding to bug fixing. Using CountrPT, Sarah tracks her progress on each task, making notes of key milestones and any roadblocks she encounters. At the end of each day, she syncs her progress with the app, ensuring that everything is documented and ready for her daily check-ins. When her manager asks for an update, Sarah can quickly share her detailed progress report straight from the app, highlighting completed tasks, ongoing work, and areas where she needs additional support. This seamless sharing process ensures that Sarah's manager stays up-to-date, without the need for long status meetings. It also helps Sarah align with team goals and receive prompt feedback on her work, driving the project forward more efficiently. 🚀 #OwnYourCareer #AIForWork #CareerGrowth #EarlyUsers #JoinOurCommunity #CountrPT #Humanresources #HR

🌟 Exciting News from DeStaRe! 🌟 Hi everyone, we are Aleksandra Dziewulska, Paweł Przerwa, Paulina Duźniak, and Sebastian Bukowski, the team behind DeStaRe. We are the foundation for product and social innovation, focusing on research, design, and strategy. Our mission is to arouse, inspire, and lead to the creation of impactful solutions. Our objectives are to: 1️⃣ Raise awareness of technology and foster innovation through collaboration between businesses, government organizations, and local communities. 2️⃣ Promote and integrate product thinking and product culture into public and private sector strategies. 3️⃣ Stimulate sustainable growth in diverse communities, improving the quality of product and service delivery. We aim to achieve these goals by implementing a product culture that encourages continuous improvement and an agile approach. We focus on both business- and user-centered technology development and promote a data-driven, evidence-based methodology. We are committed to educating and training government and business representatives, as well as members of the product community, to solve complex problems and strengthen user-centered approaches in product and service development. Our initiatives include: 🚀 Product Challenge: A year-long program to build product culture, skills, and portfolios. 🚀 Many Points of View Podcast: Our perspective on product culture, research, and design. 🚀 Tech on a Couch Podcast: Addressing mental health challenges in the tech industry. 🚀 State of the Industry Report: Insights from the product community. 🚀 Masterminds - innovation-oriented problem solving groups to deepen knowledge 🚀 ProductJam - product event to celebrate product culture and community 🚀 ProductGuide Our values guide all our efforts: 🩷 Compassion: Understanding and acting for the benefit of others. 💙 Transparency & Authenticity: Acting in accordance with our values and moral code. 💚 Curiosity: Continuously learning and challenging the status quo. 💜 Courage: Taking on bold challenges and seeking opportunities despite adversity. Stay tuned for more details about our activities. In the meantime, follow us on LinkedIn! Thank you! See you soon, bye! #Innovation #DesignThinking #SustainableGrowth #ProductCulture #Tech #Community #productthinking #product #productmanagement #productdesign #uxresearch #uxdesign #uidesign P.S. Have you joined our Discord server yet? It's the best place to connect with like-minded innovators and product-people! (link in comments and at the end of the video) (Feel free to reshare this post to spread the word! ♻️)

✨️BookishHub Platform✨️ Reflecting on my portfolio project journey, I've encountered trials, learned invaluable lessons, and achieved significant milestones. This post encapsulates the dedication, challenges, and growth that shaped this endeavor. 🔸️Purpose: My portfolio project aimed to showcase my skills, experiences, and accomplishments comprehensively. It served as a curated representation of my capabilities for potential employers and collaborators. 🔸️Team Members, Roles, and Timeline: As the front-end developer and designer of BookishHub, I led UI design and implementation, ensuring a seamless user experience. Collaborating with Meman Awad, our back-end developer, we brought the platform to life, focusing on user interaction and backend infrastructure. 🔸️Personal Focus: My focus was to create a user-friendly platform prioritizing community engagement and interaction, enhancing the reading experience. 🔸️Personal Story: Motivated by my love for reading, BookishHub aimed to celebrate literature and foster connections through shared experiences. 🔸️Accomplishments: I created a fully functional web application embodying BookishHub's vision, from UI design to robust features like discussion forums. 🔸️Most Difficult Technical Challenge: Ensuring smooth integration between front-end and back-end systems was a challenge, but effective communication facilitated seamless functionality. 🔸️Conclusion: Building BookishHub has been rewarding, filled with creativity, perseverance, and collaboration. I look forward to refining and expanding it to serve readers worldwide. #books #web_application #alx_africa #alx #ALX_SE

A well-structured project is an investment in your future self. Whether you're building a small app, a complex system, or scaling an existing project, structure matters. 🔹 It saves time during updates. 🔹 It simplifies scaling. 🔹 It makes onboarding new team members smoother. 🔹 And most importantly, it preserves your sanity. Rushing into development without a clear structure might feel faster at first, but it often leads to technical debt, confusion, and frustration down the line. Take the time to plan. Organize your code, your processes, and your workflows. Your team—and your future self—will thank you. Build with intention. Grow with confidence. 🚀 How do you ensure your projects are built for the long term? Let’s share best practices in the comments!

It's amazing to see how accessible creating software has become. You no longer need a 3-year degree and a few years of experience to build your own app from scratch. With No Code, anyone from entrepreneurs to marketers can build apps and tools without writing a single line of code. The speed is incredible too. Because the infrastructure is handled by the platform and many components are pre-built, what used to take months now takes weeks or even days. This efficiency makes it cost-effective as well. It’s not just cheaper development – it’s faster, and one No Code developer can accomplish more than a traditional developer in the same time. What’s really exciting is how empowering it is. Not just for product managers or designers, but also for people like dentists, middle managers, or anyone who wants to create custom software to make their jobs easier. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities, where diverse teams can collaborate seamlessly on building solutions. Getting started with No Code is significantly faster than code. You can probably build your first generic app by following instructions in a couple of days. You can become a proper no code developer in ~6 months with the right effort. Compared to learning code, this path is much faster. #NoCode #Startup #Innovation #ProductManagement #UXUIDesign