Episode Details

In this Kata, we break down how to manage projects when you don’t have all the answers from the start. We explain why traditional project management methods no longer work as well, how clarity comes from building instead of planning forever, and how we used Unleash the Avatar as a real example to develop our own way of managing projects.

Uploaded 05-08-26

We then walk through the entire process of turning a rough idea into a structured team. We cover how to decide what needs research, what already works, when to hire, when to outsource, when to invest in better tools, and how to use AI to keep large teams aligned. Along the way, we also share how we built different parts of Unleash the Avatar, from motion capture and photogrammetry to custom internal tools and playtesting.

Finally, we talk about how projects grow over time. We discuss getting feedback early, building the right team before scaling, avoiding expensive mistakes, and why every successful project is really a series of small experiments that slowly bring more clarity. Whether you’re building a startup, an app, a game, or any large project, the ideas in this Kata can be applied almost anywhere.

00:00 - Intro
02:04 - You Don't Know What You're Building (Low Resolution)
03:17 - Why Waterfall and Agile Are Outdated
05:45 - Set a Deadline to Decide
06:31 - Break Projects into Departments, Not Roles
08:17 - The Minimum Viable Team
09:43 - Sure Shot vs R and D
14:18 - Vertical Slicing: Alpha, Beta, Gold
15:58 - Building the High Resolution Team
18:03 - Case Study: Photogrammetry R and D
21:46 - When to Invest in Technology (The Math)
25:11 - Where AI Fits in Projects
27:50 - 5 Choices for Every Role
31:03 - Why Distribution Helps (Feedback, Talent, Mentors)
34:58 - Funding: Seed to Series B
36:46 - Success Metrics: Conversion, Wishlists and TAM
40:44 - The Playbook = Your Org Chart
42:12 - Closing Thoughts



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