AI Product Manager

About handly

handly is an early-stage, venture capital-funded company creating an AI-first operating system tailored for craft businesses. Having recently secured €3.75 million in funding from 20VC, Stride, and Base10, the company is focused on assembling a small, high-performing team that values ownership and trust.

Role Overview

We seek an AI Product Manager eager to take significant responsibility by directing product strategy, making decisions amid uncertainty, personally shipping products, and closely collaborating hands-on with engineering to accelerate development and learning. This position emphasizes building and delivering rather than process management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead product direction comprehensively, from identifying user problems to devising and releasing solutions.
• Transform the company's objectives into clear product initiatives, prioritizations, and trade-offs.
• Collaborate intensively with engineers to define scope, design features, launch them, and iterate swiftly.
• Create test datasets, define evaluation criteria, and be accountable for product outcomes.
• Make informed product choices despite incomplete data and adjust strategies as needed.
• Gain deep insights into user behaviors, workflows, and practical constraints.
• Clarify to the team what is being built, why it matters, and the criteria for completion.
• Contribute to establishing effective product development practices as the organization grows.

Required Qualifications and Traits

• Demonstrated high agency: proactive ownership and initiative without needing approval.
• An AI-native mindset: fluent in using AI tools and approaching product design from an AI-first perspective.
• Strong technical comprehension to understand systems and limit factors.
• Refined product judgment with a clear vision of what defines excellence.
• Attention to user experience and detail, regardless of formal design training.
• Comfort making decisions under uncertainty and willingness to pivot when necessary.
• Experience thriving in rapid, early-stage startup environments.
• Personal projects or independently developed products are highly valued.

Language Requirements

• Fluent German (oral and written) - essential as the product interface is fully German and partners predominantly communicate in German.
• Fluent English for internal communication.

Benefits and Work Environment

• Work onsite daily at a modern, bright Berlin-Mitte office with a spacious balcony.
• Fast feedback cycles and no layers of management ensure velocity.
• Opportunity to grow by taking on as much responsibility as possible.
• A close-knit, ambitious team passionate about building challenging products.
• Minimal meetings: only two brief meetings weekly and no daily stand-ups.

Hiring Process

• Introductory call
• Discussion with Basti
• Practical session focusing on product thinking and collaboration with Kais
• Onsite half-day evaluation with Kais, Basti, Mauro, and Alain involving whiteboarding and culture/product assessments

Additional Notes

No prolonged case studies or drawn-out interview stages; the recruitment process is designed to be straightforward and efficient.