Building Early Stage Products with Levels Co-Founder David Flinner - Build with Maggie Crowley Recap

Podcast: Build with Maggie Crowley

Published: 2021-07-30

Duration: 33 min

Guests: David Flinner

Summary

David Flinner discusses how Levels is changing how consumers understand metabolic health using continuous glucose monitors and real-time feedback. He emphasizes the importance of customer feedback in product development and how early adoption informs future growth.

What Happened

David Flinner, co-founder of Levels, explains how their product uses continuous glucose monitors to help users understand the impact of their dietary choices on metabolic health. He describes Levels' initial challenge of making these monitors accessible to non-diabetic users in the U.S. through a telehealth consultation system. Flinner emphasizes that metabolic health impacts various daily and long-term health outcomes, from energy levels to chronic illness risks.

Levels began by targeting biohackers who were already interested in accessing their own health data but couldn't get it. By focusing on solving immediate problems and gathering user feedback, Levels gradually built their product, starting with a simple food logging app before expanding to more detailed glucose tracking.

Flinner shares how the team prioritized rapid iteration and customer feedback, interacting with users through text messages and regular calls to understand their needs. This approach helped Levels refine their app to deliver valuable insights based on glucose data and user feedback.

The company's focus on education aims to improve users' understanding of metabolic health. Flinner notes that context-relevant education, such as immediate feedback after a glucose spike, has been particularly effective in helping users learn.

Flinner outlines the future of Levels, including plans for ongoing user engagement and deeper health insights. He envisions a community aspect where users can share experiences and learn from each other, as well as a shift towards a membership model that aligns company and user incentives.

As Levels prepares for broader market adoption, Flinner discusses the strategy to transition from early adopters to mainstream health seekers. The company continues to experiment with new features that could enhance user experience and broaden the product's appeal.

Reflecting on his startup journey, Flinner highlights the importance of a strong team and staying close to customer feedback. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on solving immediate problems and to embrace the dynamic nature of startup life.

Key Insights