Nandu Rajagopala - Product Manager

Berlin, Germany

Experience

Jan 2020 - Present

4 years 6 months

Berlin, Germany

Web app to teach science skills to 7-12 year olds (Duolingo for Science)

Designed wireframe on Figma and built an assessment tool to enable teachers to assign, assess and track homework to an entire class
Refined value proposition by identifying core opportunities via several techniques such as demos, user interviews and field studies (online groups) to engage with teachers (hard-to-reach user)
Validated problem with landing page test generating 20% conversion within a week (sign-ups/views) by targeting and advertising on relevant parent/teacher Facebook groups

Jan 2018 - Present

7 years 6 months

Berlin, Germany

Product and strategy consultancy projects across a wide range of sectors/companies

Drove ideation and shaped product vision/value proposition of 3 new product ideas for a German-backed West African education provider by interviewing 20+ stakeholders and identifying user needs
Assessed South-Asian market for an alt-meat QSR brand by segmenting competitors, pinpointing key customer trends and performing financial/operational analysis
Defined core product features and positioned SaaS medtech startup for over EUR1M in funding from Innovate UK and others by planning and performing extensive user research and market analysis

Jan 2013 - Dec 2017

5 years

Bangkok, Thailand

At Lazada (now part of Alibaba) in Bangkok:

Helped raise $250M in financing from investors including Tesco by preparing management presentations, information memoranda and managing due diligence process
Led 3 departments to initiate, design and launch online marketing as a service for Thailand's Marketplace sellers. Structured $30K partnership with Reckitt Benckiser for promotional roll-out

Jan 2013 - Dec 2017

5 years

Singapore

Incubates and builds internet companies with proven business models

At Zalora in Singapore:

Increased net sales by ~50% (EUR1M monthly sales) and gross profits by ~70% YoY for Menswear via data-driven analyses and cross-functional initiatives in assortment, pricing, marketing and intake
Tripled new mobile customers and reduced acquisition costs by 70% in 6 months through tailored roadmap. Won Silver from MMA Smarties (global mobile award) for customer acquisition in ID

Jan 2009 - Dec 2014

5 years

London, United Kingdom

Investment banking advisory in multiple country/industry groups

Crafted marketing materials, built valuation/financial models, participated in business development activities, published research pieces and mentored juniors
Conducted commercial due diligence on horticultural cultivator/exporter which led to $1.5M equity investment by interviewing competitors and experts, performing field visits and analysing market
Other projects include: investment case for asset disposed by mining conglomerate (valued at $1B), valuation for a FTSE 100 luxury goods company, thought pieces on key emerging markets sectors