Hi, I’m Asim.
I help startups and scale-ups develop a product-first culture, and streamline their product discovery and development processes with AI to build simple-to-use products that solve complex problems. Having built and managed teams in the US, Canada, Argentina, and Pakistan, I especially enjoy the challenges of working remotely, and across cultures.
I have 15+ years experience building enterprise SaaS Products at startups (Integry, Elementum, Premise), advising on tech for low-income governments as a Management Consultant (World Bank) and Founder (Technology for People Initiative), and creating an SMS social network as a Founder (chOpaal / SMSall).
I also mentor early and mid-career PMs, and have helped folks transition from other roles to product.
I have a Masters in Development Practice from UC Berkeley, and a BS in Computer Science from LUMS.
I grew up, went to school, and worked in Lahore, Pakistan, before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2014 with my wife, Minahil. Right before COVID, I followed her to the Great White North — first to Toronto, and then to Ottawa— where we now live with our benevolent landlord, Shershah Suri.
How can I help?
If this is your first time starting a business, or you’re an early-stage startup, you could benefit from my 15+ years experience with consumer and enterprise startups. Product discovery, validation, pricing, design, go-to market, agile development, marketing, outsourcing… there’s always something to be done.
I’m available for part-time, and project-based, remote work and consultation. If you have something to discuss, please reach out.
What is ‘Gulab Janu’?
In January 2020, I was set to open a full-service restaurant in Toronto. Surprise, surprise! It was to be called: ‘Gulab Janu’.
The name translates loosely to ‘rose lover’, is a pun on gulab jamun, and, as such brilliance usually does, came as a late-night revelation. Right then, excitedly, I bought the domain.
Well, the restaurant didn’t happen, but, the name was too cute to let go.