I help early-stage founders who don't have a CPO yet to get product strategy, roadmap, and team structure in place fast. I work with 1-2 companies at a time, embedded part-time, focused on the problems that stall early growth: no product motion, GTM misalignment, or an unclear roadmap.
Product leader with stops at Microsoft, Slack, OpenTable, and Toast, and 8+ years focused on Vertical B2B SaaS/AI. Now running Napkin Labs, a solo fractional practice. OpenTable and Toast gave me a close read on how brick-and-mortar operators think, what software they'll actually use, and what creates real switching costs. My focus is restaurants, hospitality, retail, salons, auto shops, and adjacent markets.
Recent work: shipped new product vision and roadmap for a back-office trade startup that unlocked traction; identified 3 winning startups as part of a GenAI supply-chain investment thesis.
Depending on what you need, I can run:
An assessment of where your product strategy is broken
A workshop to validate your next move before you build it
A research sprint to answer a specific question fast
A fractional engagement for ongoing embedded leadership
San Francisco based, remote or Bay Area. Flexible on scope and structure.
I specialize in untangling product complexity for vertical B2B startups where workflows make or break adoption. I've led growth strategy at Toast (launched Cafe/Bakery segment), OpenTable (pandemic pivot, integrations ecosystem), and Slack (Shared Channels/Connect).
What I do: Pattern recognition → Strategic roadmaps → Team alignment → Revenue outcomes. I work with founders and product leaders who know they're missing something but can't put their finger on it.
Current focus: Early-stage startups moving from MVP to sustainable growth. I also scout for VCs in this space.
Location: SF, bay area
Remote: Sure
Willing to relocate: No
Technologies: Product/Market Fit, Strategy, Product growth, startups
Resume: www.napkinlabs.io
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislqta/
Email: https://forms.gle/mNYbETMkAKaaPkbt6
I’m offering three b2b startups a FREE product market fit workshop.
What: A 1.5 day foundation sprint to refine your product/market fit hypothesis.
Great for: B2B startups just getting started and want to build or validate their thesis. AND startups working on product expansion into new areas.
Outcomes: clear target audience, problem, and solution that come together to into a winning recipe for product/market fit
Why: I’m testing the workshop out for practice, and I might consider offering it commercially.
To express interest, please fill out the form above. Everyone will get a response.
I’m a Fractional Product Advisor, working with startups building B2B Vertical Software, with a special focus on brick-and-mortar merchants. I’m a professional skeptic; I like to challenge strongly held beliefs in order to reframe them for greater success. I lead through curiosity, with genuine care for users, and for the thrill of growth.
I thought about building a similar app for myself - for one I want some kind of pomodoro style color shift on a regular clock to help break time blindness.
I help early-stage founders who don't have a CPO yet to get product strategy, roadmap, and team structure in place fast. I work with 1-2 companies at a time, embedded part-time, focused on the problems that stall early growth: no product motion, GTM misalignment, or an unclear roadmap.
Product leader with stops at Microsoft, Slack, OpenTable, and Toast, and 8+ years focused on Vertical B2B SaaS/AI. Now running Napkin Labs, a solo fractional practice. OpenTable and Toast gave me a close read on how brick-and-mortar operators think, what software they'll actually use, and what creates real switching costs. My focus is restaurants, hospitality, retail, salons, auto shops, and adjacent markets.
Recent work: shipped new product vision and roadmap for a back-office trade startup that unlocked traction; identified 3 winning startups as part of a GenAI supply-chain investment thesis.
Depending on what you need, I can run:
An assessment of where your product strategy is broken A workshop to validate your next move before you build it A research sprint to answer a specific question fast A fractional engagement for ongoing embedded leadership
San Francisco based, remote or Bay Area. Flexible on scope and structure.
chris at napkinlabs dot io | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislqta/