Marty Cagan, Author at Silicon Valley Product Group · Marty Cagan
articleprincipleBuild to Learn vs Build to Earn
16 April 2026Product
We have long argued that there have always been at least two major ways to develop product. The most common way, even today in the age of AI, is the project model, which is all about output. This is where stakeholders or executives come up with a prioritized roadmap of features and projects, then for... The post Build to Learn vs Build to Earn appeared first on Silicon Valley Product Group.
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Apollo layer
What a founder can learn
Founder takeaway
Separate product work that tests assumptions from work that delivers validated value. Before committing to a feature roadmap, identify what still needs to be learned and design the smallest useful test; reserve larger delivery investments for opportunities supported by evidence.
Why it matters
Treating uncertain ideas as delivery commitments can reward output while hiding whether customers benefit. Matching the investment to the level of evidence helps conserve resources and improves product decisions.