The $1.7B Tool Powering Zoom, Salesforce, and VMWare
What do Salesforce, Zoom, and VMWare have in common?
They all run on Productboard — a product management platform quietly becoming the default tool for the best teams in tech.
So I did what any obsessed PM nerd would do:
I went deep.
In a world of hot takes, long-form research is the real moat.
6 Months. 6,289 Words. One Goal.
This isn’t your average tool review. Over the past half-year, I’ve:
- Spoken to 7 people from inside the company, including the CEO and VP of Product
- Talked to 6 users of competing PM tools
- Interviewed 3 current Productboard customers
- Consumed every podcast, article, and AMA out there
- Used the product hands-on, as part of my own workflow
I’m not here to sell you on Productboard.
I’m here to show you how they think, how they build, and what makes this $1.7B company quietly powerful.
The best PM tools don’t just organize tasks — they change how you think.
What You’ll Learn
If you’re a product leader, building a PM tool, or thinking of switching from your current stack, this deep dive is for you.
I break down:
- The origin story: From Prague to San Francisco
- How Productboard actually builds product
- The 7 growth layers that helped them scale
- The competitive landscape: Where they win vs. lose
And of course, I explore how it compares to tools like:
- Jira
- Aha!
- Asana
- Linear
- Notion
Understanding the tools the best PMs use is the fastest way to level up your own craft.
Ready to Go Deep?
If you’ve ever asked:
- “Is Productboard worth it?”
- “What tools do top product teams actually use?”
- “What does a PM tool look like done right?”
You’ll find answers in this piece.
And if you’re curious, I’ve already started researching Cursor and Linear for the next deep dives. Stay tuned.
P.S. What PM tools are in your stack? I’d love to compare notes.
