I help people figure out if their idea is worth building.

I’m Jim Semick — a founder, lecturer, and product discovery practitioner. Over the past 25 years, I’ve helped validate and launch products used by millions of people, co-founded a product management software company (acquired 2022), and now teach the next generation of entrepreneurs how to test their ideas before they build. These days, I spend my time writing, teaching at UC Santa Barbara, mentoring founders, and working on a book about the craft of validating business models.
A Bit of Background
I co-founded ProductPlan, a product roadmap platform used by thousands of product teams worldwide. Before that, I was an early employee at AppFolio (IPO 2015) and led the market validation for GoToMyPC, GoToMeeting, and GoToWebinar. I'm also an angel investor and mentor in the Santa Barbara startup community.
My journey is unique, spanning from technology book author to product manager to startup founder. I speak at events, online conferences, universities, and podcasts. I would love to share my experience with you.
Risk Management
Identify, assess, and mitigate risks before they strike
From cybersecurity to compliance, we implement proactive solutions that minimize vulnerabilities and keep your business secure and operational.
Two businessmen in formal attire discussing delivery details on a whiteboard with clipboard and pens.
Bar chart showing customer profile data with five bars labeled A to E representing 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%.
Technology Solutions
Engineered to Perform, Scale, and Drive Growth
Custom software and SaaS platforms built with cutting-edge technology to deliver speed, reliability, and sustainable business growth.
Two women reviewing and discussing documents at a white table, one pointing to the papers and the other turning pages.
Dashboard widget showing 29.7K ad spend sessions for this week with a wavy line graph.
Financial Consulting
Financial clarity that drives better decisions
From financial modeling to capital strategy, we help you make data-driven decisions that protect margins and accelerate growth.
Two business professionals, a woman in a blue blazer smiling at a man in a gray suit, sitting at a table with a laptop.
Weekly raffle display showing a total prize of $37,000 with two horizontal progress bars labeled 71% and 36%.
Financial Consulting
Financial clarity that drives better decisions
From financial modeling to capital strategy, we help you make data-driven decisions that protect margins and accelerate growth.
Two business professionals, a woman in a blue blazer smiling at a man in a gray suit, sitting at a table with a laptop.
Weekly raffle display showing a total prize of $37,000 with two horizontal progress bars labeled 71% and 36%.
Technology Solutions
Engineered to Perform, Scale, and Drive Growth
Custom software and SaaS platforms built with cutting-edge technology to deliver speed, reliability, and sustainable business growth.
Two women reviewing and discussing documents at a white table, one pointing to the papers and the other turning pages.
Dashboard widget showing 29.7K ad spend sessions for this week with a wavy line graph.
Risk Management
Identify, assess, and mitigate risks before they strike
From cybersecurity to compliance, we implement proactive solutions that minimize vulnerabilities and keep your business secure and operational.
Two businessmen in formal attire discussing delivery details on a whiteboard with clipboard and pens.
Bar chart showing customer profile data with five bars labeled A to E representing 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%.