Building Lasting Products

Last June, I was in Toronto for Collision 2024, one of Canada’s largest tech conferences. The energy was incredible — new ideas, sharp insights, and thought-provoking sessions everywhere.

Among them, one session truly stood out. The hall was overflowing as people gathered to hear MKBHD speak about emerging tech trends and the evolution of consumer gadgets.

I’ve followed his work for years, so seeing him in person was a highlight. This was just weeks before he announced his much-anticipated app — Panels.

Panels launched in September 2024 and instantly exploded in popularity. Backed by MKBHD’s massive global audience, the app shot to the top of both the App Store and Play Store charts, crossing 900,000 downloads in its first month.

But as time went on, the story shifted.

Despite the early hype, Panels struggled to convert attention into long-term sustainability. Its core proposition — high-definition wallpapers behind a recurring subscription — faced resistance.

Many users couldn’t justify paying monthly for wallpapers, and criticism around pricing became difficult to overcome.

Behind the scenes, the team faced challenges too: maintaining development momentum, aligning on the product’s evolution, and building features that delivered sustained value beyond the initial novelty.

Without strong retention, repeat engagement, or a differentiated moat, the early spike flattened.

And as of today, December 4, 2025, the app is officially in its final month of operation. MKBHD announced that Panels will shut down on December 31, 2025, with refunds issued and the codebase to be open-sourced.

"True product-market fit isn't earned on launch day - it's earned every day after." - Govinda Rajan Talluri

The Panels story offers timely lessons for anyone building products:

• 🚀 Early traction driven by audience ≠ product-market fit
• 💸 A subscription model must deliver ongoing, undeniable value
• ⚠️ Hype accelerates exposure — but weak fundamentals accelerate decline
• 🧩 Retention, not downloads, is where real product success is built
• 🔍 Build for value, not for hype.

As we build toward the next big idea, especially in a world where creators can generate instant traction, this case reminds us that product-market fit isn’t achieved on launch day — it’s earned over time.

What do you think?
Are we in an era where hype is outpacing fundamentals — or are products simply being built faster than the frameworks behind them?

♻️ Repost if you believe lasting products aren’t shaped by hype — but by fundamentals, discipline, and the strategy strong enough to sustain them.

🤝 Let’s Collaborate

As product cycles accelerate and hype often outruns fundamentals, clarity has never been more essential.

I work at the intersection of product strategy, technology, AI, CPG, and global markets, helping founders and operators make decisions grounded in value — not noise.

🔭 What I Focus On

📊 Strategy & Product Fundamentals
Practical guidance to help teams build products that solve real problems, retain users, and scale with confidence.

🧭 Market Insight & Positioning
Translating fast-moving shifts across North America, Asia, MENA, and Europe into clear, actionable direction.

⚙️ Scalable Models
Frameworks and processes built for durability — not hype-driven spikes.

🧩 How I Help

💡 Product & Business Strategy
Sharper direction for teams navigating competitive, tech-driven environments.

📈 Growth & Monetization
Support across pricing, partnerships, retention strategies, and sustainable GTM models.

🌐 Cross-Border Expansion
Helping businesses explore opportunities across Canada, the U.S., the Middle East, India, and emerging global corridors.

If you're building something meaningful — let’s connect.

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We’ve used it for our client websites for over a decade — it’s fast, secure, and built for creators who want peace of mind.

🔔 Stay Connected
If this perspective on building meaningful products — beyond hype and into fundamentals — resonated with you, let’s keep the conversation going.

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