Why "Starting with the Problem" Isn't What You Think
Everyone says they start with the problem. But most teams are actually starting with the solution—and calling it problem-solving. Here's the difference.
Read moreAbout - Products should solve problems, design should have purpose, and the greatest ideas come from necessity and collaboration.
At Product Matter, we understand products at the molecular level. We see not just what you want to build, but why it matters and how to make it real.
Product Matter was founded on a simple belief: the best product work happens when you truly understand the problem you’re solving. Not just surface-level requirements, but deep systems thinking: seeing multiple futures, identifying obstacles before they appear, and distilling complexity into elegant solutions.
I’m Jonathan Simmons, and I’ve spent 15 years building products and companies, from marketing websites to acquisition-scale platforms. I’ve led product teams at Gateway Church, founded and sold donation platforms, and most recently co-founded an insurtech startup as CEO where I held CTO/CPO responsibilities. What makes Product Matter different isn’t just engineering skill or product expertise. It’s the entrepreneurial perspective of someone who’s built, scaled, and sold companies, combined with the ability to listen deeply, ask the right questions, and see the invisible structure beneath what you’re trying to build.
Whether you need strategic clarity, ongoing product leadership, or a complete team to execute your vision, Product Matter adapts to what you actually need, not what fits a service package.
How we work - Deep product thinking, not task execution.
What makes Product Matter different is how we approach problems. We see systems, not features.
- Listen deeply. We start by understanding what you’re really trying to solve. Not just the feature request, but the underlying problem: your customers, your constraints, your vision.
- See multiple futures. Like exploring different timelines, we map potential paths forward, identifying obstacles, opportunities, and edge cases before you encounter them.
- Simplify complexity. Great products feel simple because someone removed everything unnecessary. We distill complex problems into elegant, focused solutions.
Founder
Jonathan Simmons
Founder & Product Lead
From the blog
Insights on product leadership, strategy, and execution. Real talk about the problems that keep product teams stuck and how to fix them.
When Clarity Is Your Biggest Problem
Lack of vision. Misaligned priorities. Unclear ownership. If your team is moving fast but in too many directions, the real issue isn't execution—it's clarity.
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