Our first Product Apéro in Ghent brought together product folks once again for a session led by Nadine Böttcher, Head of Product Innovation at Lighthouse.
Nadine shared Lighthouse’s journey from a small startup to recently becoming Belgium’s fifth unicorn, unpacking the challenges, decisions, and takeaways that shaped their path to hyper-growth.
🚀 3 key learnings from Lighthouse’s hyper-growth journey
1️⃣ Look beyond today
When they achieved scale with their first product, it was clear Lighthouse needed to look ahead. They needed to balance improving core products while also exploring the “day after tomorrow:” identifying untapped markets, solving unmet needs, and staying ahead of industry trends.
2️⃣ Reorganise for growth
Scaling multiple products simultaneously wasn’t easy. Lighthouse specialised its teams (e.g., data science, integration, platform…) and transitioned from rigid, time-boxed processes to a collaborative, iterative approach. The introduction of PED Trios (Product, Engineering, and Design working together) was a game-changer.
3️⃣ Stay customer-centric, always
While chasing innovation, Lighthouse faced the risk of neglecting core customers. By reorganising into customer-centric verticals, they ensured every team balanced maintaining the core while innovating for the future.
How did Lighthouse get here?
“If you’re offered a seat on a rocketship, don’t ask what seat!” Sheryl Sandberg
Lighthouse has become a trusted partner for over 70,000+ hotels globally and has been rated #1 in multiple categories for five consecutive years. But hyper-growth isn’t a straight path, and Lighthouse’s journey proves that scaling success comes with its share of rocky roads .
What we learned
The power of a bold growth strategy
Lighthouse’s growth strategy combined aggressive market penetration with TAM (Total Addressable Market) expansion by:
- Adding new modules to increase share of wallet.
- Expanding into adjacent markets like airlines and car rentals.
This approach helped Lighthouse drive 30% YoY growth, fueled by innovative new products .Investing in today, tomorrow, and beyondNadine emphasized the importance of balancing three horizons of product investment:
- Today: maintaining current offerings in close dialogue with customers.
- Tomorrow: expanding product lines with adjacent features.
- One day: inventing entirely new revenue streams .
Reorganising for success (again and again)Lighthouse restructured multiple times to scale effectively. Key actions included:
- Splitting specialised teams (e.g., data science, platform, integration teams).
- Transitioning from rigid time-boxed development to more iterative processes.
- Introducing the concept of a PED Trio (Product, Engineering, Design working collaboratively).
These steps allowed Lighthouse to stay nimble and focus on innovation .Reality checks for product teamsMindset is everything: Nadine highlighted that innovation isn’t limited to leadership, it’s the responsibility of everyone.Opportunities come fast: teams need to be ready to tackle challenges with full force to avoid being left behind .Tackling churn head-onFor the first time, Lighthouse saw churn exceed 10%, driven by:
- A lack of investment in foundational products.
- Inability to respond to key customer requests.
- Lack of ongoing innovation.
The team launched initiatives to decrease churn by investing in their core products and addressing customer feedback proactively .LASER-sharp focus on viability, desirability, and feasibilityNadine emphasised balancing product management, design, and engineering to deliver viable, desirable, and feasible solutions. She left attendees with actionable advice for taking their own product strategies to the next level:Listen actively: to customers, competitors, and sometimes your gut.Assess with scrutiny: weigh the opportunity cost of solving or not solving certain problems.Select carefully: which opportunities to pursue and which ones to say NO to. Execute swiftly: ship early, iterate quickly.Reflect: frequently review the business value and processesIn a nutshell?
- Look beyond
- Maintain laser sharp focus
- Organise for success
And as Nadine says…“If you’re offered a seat on a rocketship, do know they are lying to you 😄” Nadine Böttcher
Ready to learn more?
Explore these resources:
- 11 Key Takeaways from Transforming a Product Organization
- 4 Key Takeaways for Building a Product Team
- How to Transform a Product Organisation
See you at the next Product Apéro!
