Prashant Mahajan, founder and CEO of Zeda.io, is a prominent figure in AI-driven product management. As reported by TechCrunch and Forbes, Mahajan's journey from senior product manager to successful entrepreneur exemplifies innovation in the SaaS industry. His company, Zeda.io, has gained recognition for its AI-powered product discovery and strategy software, helping teams build impactful products more efficiently.
Prashant Mahajan founded Zeda.io in 2020 as a side project after losing his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic1. Initially conceived as an AI-powered product discovery and strategy software solution, Zeda.io quickly gained traction and evolved into a full-fledged startup2.
The company's growth trajectory has been impressive:
In 2021, Zeda.io secured a pre-seed funding round of $550,000 with a valuation of $5.3 million2.
In 2022, the product was officially launched to the public, and the company acquired its first paying customer2.
Following the initial success, Zeda.io raised an additional $1.2 million, followed by another $2.1 million in funding2.
Zeda.io's platform addresses key challenges in product management by providing tools for collecting and analyzing customer feedback, prioritizing features, and aligning product development with business objectives3. The company's AI-driven approach has resonated with product teams, leading to steady customer growth2.
Under Mahajan's leadership, Zeda.io has expanded its workforce to approximately 25 employees across India and the United States2. The company's rapid growth is attributed to its innovative use of AI in product management, addressing inefficiencies Mahajan observed throughout his career3.
Zeda.io's success has been recognized in the industry, with the platform being named one of the Best Digital Products of 2023 by the Proddy Awards4. The company has also gained attention for its approach to integrating AI into product management processes, with Mahajan frequently sharing insights on avoiding the "product death cycle" and leveraging AI for better decision-making56.
As Zeda.io continues to grow, Mahajan remains focused on the company's mission to empower product teams to build impactful products more efficiently. The startup aims to achieve profitability in the near future while continuing to innovate in the AI-driven product management space2.
Prashant Mahajan is a prominent figure in the product management and entrepreneurship landscape, known for founding Zeda.io, an AI-powered product management platform. With a diverse background spanning roles at Paytm, Tokopedia, and Branch, Mahajan leveraged his extensive experience to address inefficiencies in product development processes12. After being laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic, he pivoted from pursuing an MBA to launching Zeda.io in 2021, which has since secured $3.85 million in funding and gained recognition as one of the Best Digital Products of 202332.
Mahajan's contributions extend beyond his entrepreneurial ventures. He is recognized as a thought leader in AI-driven product management, having been named one of the Top 25 AI Executives of 2024 by The Software Report4. His upcoming research paper on AI-powered product management demonstrates his commitment to advancing the field through scholarly work5. Mahajan's vision for the future of product management emphasizes the integration of AI to enhance efficiency and innovation while maintaining a focus on ethical considerations and human-AI collaboration32.
Prashant Mahajan's career trajectory showcases a blend of corporate experience and entrepreneurial spirit in the product management field. He began his journey at Paytm, where he played a key role in launching consumer payment products, including QR code-based payments and wallet services used by over 6 million users daily1. His tenure at Paytm laid the foundation for his expertise in fintech and consumer-facing products.
Following his success at Paytm, Mahajan transitioned to Tokopedia in Indonesia, where he faced new challenges in a different cultural and linguistic environment1. At Tokopedia, he advanced to strategic leadership roles, managing teams and contributing to the company's growth. His international experience expanded when he joined Branch as a Senior Product Manager, leading core products and the links platform2. After being impacted by COVID-19 layoffs, Mahajan pivoted from pursuing an MBA to founding Zeda.io, leveraging his extensive product management background to create a platform that addresses the inefficiencies he observed throughout his career31.
Prashant Mahajan's career is marked by notable achievements across product management and entrepreneurship:
Led the development of Paytm's QR code-based payments and wallet services, reaching over 6 million daily users1
At Tokopedia, spearheaded projects that increased daily active users by 28% and improved overall conversion rates by 20%2
Founded Zeda.io in 2021, securing $3.85 million in funding across multiple rounds3
Recognized as one of the Top 25 AI Executives of 2024 by The Software Report4
Nominated for a prestigious Chief Product Officer (CPO) award4
Zeda.io named one of the Best Digital Products of 2023 by the Proddy Awards5
Mahajan's success in transforming Zeda.io from an idea into a product with paying customers within a short timeframe stands out as his proudest professional accomplishment5. His ability to build and retain a dedicated team, with early employees still working at Zeda.io, demonstrates his leadership skills and the strong company culture he has fostered5.
Prashant Mahajan has delivered numerous talks and presentations on product management, AI integration, and entrepreneurship. Here's a concise list of some of his notable speaking engagements:
"Making Customer Research Easier" at Product Mastery Now, discussing challenges in collecting actionable customer insights1
Fireside Chat with Product School Founder & CEO, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia, on the role of a Founder2
"Product Management in the Era of AI and Machine Learning" at Mind the Product conference3
"How Zeda.io is Redefining Product Management" at The Product Folks event4
Guest speaker at various institutions including ISB, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, BITS Pilani, and IIM Indore5
Mahajan's talks often focus on leveraging AI in product management, overcoming startup challenges, and sharing insights from his entrepreneurial journey with Zeda.io. These speaking engagements have solidified his position as a thought leader in the product management space, particularly in the realm of AI-driven solutions.
Prashant Mahajan has established himself as a thought leader in the product management and AI space through his innovative work at Zeda.io and numerous contributions to industry publications. His insights on AI-driven product development and customer-centric approaches have been featured in prominent outlets such as Forbes, TechCrunch, and Mind the Product12.
Mahajan's expertise has been recognized by several prestigious organizations. He was named one of the Top 25 AI Executives of 2024 by The Software Report, highlighting his influence in shaping AI applications for product management3. This recognition underscores his role in driving innovation at the intersection of AI and product development.
As a member of the Forbes Technology Council, Mahajan regularly contributes articles on emerging trends in product management and AI1. His piece on "The Future of Product Management: Embracing AI's Revolution" garnered significant attention, offering insights into how AI is reshaping the product development landscape1.
Mahajan's thought leadership extends to his participation in industry events and podcasts. He has been a featured speaker at Product School, discussing the challenges and opportunities in building AI-powered products4. His appearance on the Product Mastery Now podcast, where he shared strategies for making customer research more effective, further solidified his reputation as an expert in the field5.
The success of Zeda.io under Mahajan's leadership has not gone unnoticed. The platform was recognized as one of the Best Digital Products of 2023 by the Proddy Awards, a testament to its innovative approach to product management6. This accolade reflects Mahajan's vision for transforming how product teams operate and make decisions.
Mahajan's insights on avoiding the "product death cycle" have been widely shared in industry publications27. His pragmatic approach to integrating AI into product management processes while maintaining a focus on customer needs has resonated with product managers and entrepreneurs alike.
Through his thought leadership and the recognition he has received, Prashant Mahajan continues to shape the discourse around AI in product management, influencing how companies approach product development in an increasingly AI-driven world.