Company: Aha! Labs Menlo Park, CA
Company Description: Aha! is the world's #1 product development software, empowering teams to bring strategy to life with tools like Aha! Roadmaps, Aha! Ideas, Aha! Whiteboards, Aha! Knowledge, and Aha! Develop. Our suite enables teams to set strategy, crowdsource ideas, spark creativity, share roadmaps, manage releases, publish knowledge bases, and plan development — all in one centralized place.
Nomination Category: Thought Leadership Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Thought Leader of The Year - Business Products
 Nomination Title: Brian de Haaff, CEO
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since January 1 2023, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
Brian de Haaff is the co-founder and CEO of Aha! — the world's #1 product development software. Brian co-founded Aha! in 2013 with Dr. Chris Waters to redefine how product teams build software. They took an unconventional approach — self-funding the company (now over $100 million in revenue), operating remotely, and prioritizing long-term value over rapid growth. Aha! Roadmaps pioneered a new category of technology (product roadmapping software), and today, the Aha! suite includes five products covering the entire product development lifecycle. Aha! software is used by over 1 million product builders worldwide.
Brian’s goal is simple: to help others build software that customers love in companies where people love to work. He has introduced leading product development and company building concepts, such as The Responsive Method, Minimum Lovable Product (MLP), and Complete Product Experience (CPE). He is the author of Lovability and a champion of the Bootstrap Movement. A prolific writer, Brian has bylined articles on Inc., Entrepreneur, and Huffington Post.
Brian regularly shares his insights on the Aha! blog, where he has authored more than 880 posts, and in bimonthly email newsletters. He has 349,000 followers on LinkedIn and nearly 140,000 email subscribers across newsletter platforms.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the nominee's thought leadership achievements since January 1, 2023 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 214 words used.
Brian is recognized as one of the leading thinkers on the future of product management. He consistently shares bold, contrarian perspectives that challenge conventional wisdom. He promotes sustainable, bootstrapped growth over venture capital, champions remote work as a productivity enhancer, and advocates for strategic planning over excessive processes. Brian also engages directly with Aha! customers and product teams via customer calls, speaker events, and AMAs (Ask Me Anythings).
Since January 1, 2023, he has:
-
Authored more than 50 articles on the Aha! blog, including "Strategy should not be so hard," "Do what VCs say you should not," and "Are they forcing you back to the office?"
-
Launched The Startup Adventure, a LinkedIn newsletter that shares insights on product strategy and people-first company building. Since January 2023, Brian has published more than 40 editions and gained more than 65,000 subscribers. (In addition, Brian sends an Aha!-branded newsletter to Aha! customers, bringing total email subscribers to nearly 140,000.)
-
Published The Aha! Framework, a streamlined method for product development that integrates strategic planning with agile execution. It maps out activities across nine phases of product building, with guidance on how to reduce complexity, prioritize effectively, and build customer happiness.
-
Been named a Top LinkedIn Voice in product management and business strategy.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 232 words used.
Brian stands out in the tech industry by rejecting the venture capital-driven model that dominates high-tech growth businesses. While many startups chase rapid growth with VC funding, Brian and Chris built Aha! as a fully bootstrapped, 100% remote company that has been profitable from the first year. In a landscape where financial instability and layoffs are common, Brian's emphasis on sustainable, long-term value is refreshingly contrarian.
His thought leadership has always focused on building meaningful products that customers truly need. This year, he went further — revealing a new approach to software development. The Aha! Framework is a strategically-grounded approach to building products with agility.
The launch of The Startup Adventure newsletter on LinkedIn further solidified Brian's influence. Readers responded enthusiastically, with comments like, “This is what the tech world needs — honest, practical advice from someone who’s been there,” and “Thank you for sharing real-world insights that help us move forward thoughtfully.” (Read more about what people said.)
Through platforms like his book, the Aha! blog, and LinkedIn, Brian reaches a global audience, encouraging a new approach to building businesses that prioritize profitability, employee well-being, and community impact. This focus is especially timely, as the tech industry reconsiders the true cost of rapid scaling.
Brian’s success is not just about redefining product development — it is about proving that sustainable growth can be achieved without sacrificing purpose or people.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 145 words used.
We compiled all relevant resources into one PDF document for your review (attached).
These include:
Aha! company resources
-
The Aha! suite of products
-
Our company history
-
The Aha! blog, including bylined pieces by Brian de Haaff
-
Brian de Haaff's best-selling book, Lovability
LinkedIn resources
Additional thought leadership (for historical context)
-
Brian de Haaff's Bootstrap Movement
-
Archive of Inc. articles bylined by Brian de Haaff
-
Archive of Entrepreneur articles bylined by Brian de Haaff
-
Archive of Huffington Post articles bylined by Brian de Haaff
Public reviews
These supporting materials provide a comprehensive look at Brian’s contributions to product management and company building. They demonstrate his impact on the industry and reinforce the values that define Aha! — innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to people.
| Attachments/Videos/Links: |
|---|
|
