Cameo Doran

Cameo Labs

Most founders don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with getting them built.

You know the feeling:
→ Customers are demanding features your team can’t deliver fast enough.
→ Competitors are launching what you’ve had on the roadmap for months.
→ Investors are pressing for traction while your team is still planning and complaining about tech debt

It’s frustrating. Every month of delay feels like you are slipping further behind: burning runway, missing deals, losing confidence.

That’s where we come in.

At Cameo Labs, we specialize in building the software that founders need shipped yesterday. Using a process we call Insight Driven Development, which combines AI acceleration with senior engineering talent we can turn urgent product ideas into production-ready platforms in 4–6 months. 

And because our process bakes customer insight into every stage, what we deliver isn’t just fast, it’s software your customers actually adopt and stick with. The kind that drives revenue, not churn.

The result isn’t another fragile product that crumbles under real use, or months of your team still stuck in planning. It’s real, revenue-driving software your business can put in front of customers right away.

Proof?
✔ An EdTech founder closed $3M in contracts on a platform we delivered in under 5 months.
✔ An infrastructure company saved $6M after we migrated 1,000+ servers with zero downtime.
✔ An AI training company hit $1.5M ARR in 9 months after we built their custom education platform.

We’re not a typical agency. We’re the partner founders trust when the stakes are high, the team is stretched thin, and the clock is ticking.

If you’ve got a product that can’t wait, let’s talk.

Founder

Nerd United

Nerd United is a Web3 venture studio focused on building blockchain enabled startups that solve real world problems. 

As SVP of Product for the Studio, I lead a high-caliber product team responsible for bringing highly innovative blockchain products to market.  We teach brands to accelerate the pace of product ideation and leverage concept validation methods to evaluate new product ideas and ensure the success of product launches and the startups as a whole. 

At Nerd United, we are systematizing innovation. I am responsible for building processes that allow teams and founders within our incubator to be learning and discovery focused. We teach repeatable processes for problem and solution validation, user discovery, market research, and other aspects of new opportunity evaluation.
I also work with individual brand product leads and founders to define and own product vision and strategic roadmaps. I act as a strategic partner and advisor to both the brands in the incubator and our portfolio companies, and I'm always looking for ways to create value and support the growth of our startups.

SVP of Product - Venture Studio

Theory of Anything Podcast

Co-Host

LeadingAgile

Leading Agile is company that specializes in agile and digital transformations for Fortune 50 companies. As a Managing Consultant, I was responsible for consulting with executive teams at enterprise companies on implementing agile processes and moving towards a product-driven model. 

I coached C-suite executives and their teams on best practices for modern product management, including design thinking tools and lean startup methodologies. I also trained executive teams on OKRs and leveraging an OKR mindset to empower product teams and create more successful outcomes.

Managing Consultant - Product Management & Strategy

SolutionStream

As Head of Product and Delivery, I focus on building innovation & agile development processes that help our clients create world class products.  With our SolutionMap™ process we keep clients laser focused on building the most valuable product features and exploring potential issues and roadblocks before we start writing code. 

I manage and deliver large, complex products from initial engagement to production launch and ongoing enhancement.  I provide product strategy and agile & lean operations training to our clients and employees while focusing on rapid delivery and top-notch user experience.  

I have helped clients from small startup to enterprise implement agile in transformative ways. I guide and train organizations on cutting-edge product management process. I also coach executives and product teams on strategy and process to deliver products that drive business results. 

I have built a framework that uses rapid agile product development processes and focuses on market research, user testing, refining and validating product ideas based on market and user data.

VP Product & Innovation | High-Growth Product Strategy | Worldclass Execution

LogMeIn

Recruited by the CTO as the first VP of Product, I owned all product-related activities including market definition, Product Strategy, User Experience (UX) and User Testing, and product roadmap and planning activities.  I was responsible for improving and managing product management processes speed up product time to market, deliver enhancements that improved user experience and ensure ROI on product development investments. 

▷ Directed a unified product team including product managers, UX/designers, and agile coaches.
▷ Collaborated with executive leadership to evolve product roadmap to match the overall product strategy.
▷ Introduced Design Thinking methodologies to enhance development processes.
▷ Ensured predictable delivery of features/products by using internally published roadmaps and measurable value of product department work
▷ Managed product planning processes with internal and external stakeholders
▷ Collaborated with customer/partner stakeholders to validate the effectiveness of the product team and communicate upcoming priorities
▷ Analyzed and prioritized future product opportunities based on Jive’s unique software platform
▷ Conducted tactical product management functions as needed - including gathering high-level requirements, developing user stories, etc.

VP Product Management ☆Product Innovation | Culture Transformation | Execution Strategy

Kartiva 

We make videos instantly shoppable. 
The future of everything is video and we make the technology that allows consumers to shop directly inside live video.

Advisory Board - Product

As the director of Product Management & Operations, I provided strategic advice and technology expertise to deliver the products and solutions our clients need to be successful. Oversaw strategy, design, development, production, and execution of complex programs for this well-known custom software development firm.
▷ Managed all development and production for Modere.com, a $2.5 million program introducing an all-new name and brand, but also a complete overhaul of their e-commerce system. 
▷ Oversaw creative, account, client, and technical teams to develop comprehensive products and product campaigns for various B2C and B2B clients
▷ Created budgets and maintain dynamic timelines for multiple interactive advertising campaigns simultaneously for various brand/agency clients
▷ Responded to proposal requests; Generate competitive bids, estimate level of effort and technical requirements, and develop project scope to create comprehensive statements of work for clients

Director of Product Delivery | Product Management & Strategy | Agile/Scrum Mentor

OrbSix Software

As a founder of this SaaS startup, I wore many hats. Since we were bootstrapping, every dollar was vital. I was responsible for almost everything that touched Product management and Product Strategy. I was also responsible for Project Management and Customer Experience.
As part of my role, I had to learn how to successfully manage projects and products and teams. In an attempt to develop more successfully, we implemented XP as an agile methodology. This was my first introduction into agile and it changed my perspective on how software should be built. 
I developed and implemented project and product Management guidelines and policies across the organization and monitored effectiveness and geared changes to optimize budget and time and ensure success.

Orbsix Software specializes in Loyalty Programs and Compensation Management software for the Retail and Network Marketing Industries.

Co-Founder | Head of Product 

FedEx Office

Worked directly with Project stakeholders to define project requirements and success criteria.  Coordinated with project teams to ensure on time project delivery.

Sr Project Coordinator

Chief Product Officer ⇢ Fractional Prices with Full-Time Impact ◆ Digital Transformations ◆ Advising Startup Founders and Executives Building Innovative Products ⇢ AI / XR / Web3

I’ve always been fascinated (and a little frustrated) by how many great companies can’t seem to ship great software. I’ve sat inside teams where brilliant ideas died in Jira backlogs, and I’ve watched the opposite too: features rushed out fast, only to flop because they were poorly executed or customers didn’t care. Both hurt. Both waste time and burn cash.

Cameo Labs is my answer to that problem. I started it because I couldn’t stand watching founders lose momentum on ideas that should have changed their business and their lives. 

My mission is simple: help founders build the right product, fast enough to matter.

Since starting, I’ve led projects that:

- Shipped an EdTech platform that closed $3M in contracts in under five months.
- Migrated 1,000+ servers with zero downtime, saving $6M.
- Built an AI training platform that scaled to $1.5M ARR in 9 months.

I’m dorky about this stuff. I love the messy early product conversations, poking at assumptions, figuring out where speed really matters, and then helping a team pull off what feels impossible. That’s what gets me up in the morning.

If you’re a founder under pressure to ship something that can’t wait, I’d love to hear about it.

Chief Product Officer / Fractional Product Management

As the owner and founder of Cameo Labs, I am dedicated to helping CEOs and executives of $100M - $500M businesses in the Edtech, Fintech, and SaaS sectors achieve rapid and transformative innovation. 

At Cameo Labs, we understand that staying competitive in today’s market requires more than just innovative ideas—it demands strategic execution and a customer-centric approach.


I founded Cameo Labs to empower our clients by streamlining their product development processes, aligning their business strategies with technological advancements, and fostering a culture of continuous innovation.

We operate differently than most agencies. 

Our holistic approach combines technology, strategic foresight, and customer insights to create cohesive and impactful product visions. Our clients have experienced faster innovation cycles, improved product success rates, and higher customer satisfaction.

With a proven track record of success, we are committed to turning your challenges into opportunities for growth and success. Our goal is to be your trusted partner, helping you achieve your business vision and lead your industry.

Let’s Connect:
Discover how Cameo Labs can transform your business. Visit http://cameolabs.com or reach out to me directly to explore how we can work together to drive your business forward.

At this point, “posting about AI” might be the most profitable AI application of all.

If the internet has taught us anything, it’s that people don’t want power….They want visibility.

JSESSIONID

li_at

Talks about #agile, #innovation, #leadership, #leanstartups, and #productmanagement

From Vision to Execution | Faster Products, Better Results, Bigger Impact | SaaS Companies | Strategic Software Partner

Stop wasting people’s time.

We are all hearing how AI can improve productivity. But if your team is trapped in meetings all day, nothing getting done.... AI or no AI.

And I say this as someone who deeply values collaboration. But let’s be real: collaboration isn’t what happens in most corporate meetings. What you usually get is status theatrics, that one guys with his endless tangents, or people talking just to prove they’re engaged.

It doesn’t matter how fast you can build with AI (or without) if you never give people the space to actually do the work.

And it's not just the time suck that's damaging - meetings require:
- Pre- and post- busy work
- Tons of cognitive load
- Context switching
The list goes on and on. 

One reason my teams move so much faster than most internal teams? We know how to get the work done without drowning in meetings.

Leaders who want to speed up velocity should start by cutting the crap. 
Cancel half your meetings. Protect focus time. Give creativity room to flourish. 

Do you agree?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you curious about Personal AI? This month at our Gen & juice AI Mixer, we I'll be learning about personal AI - what it is, and how you can spin up your own. 
Link in the comments to register.

You have to listen and learn from your customer but it doesn't mean they are always right. 

In fact, they are often completely wrong. 
Painfully so. They will lie, but they dont mean to.  (silly humans)

The trick is to figure out what feedback aligns with your strategy and market forces/opportunities and which feedback can lead you astray. 

Customer feedback is a powerful tool, but it is not a compass. 

Listen wisely.


___________________________

If you are in the Salt Lake City area, it is not too late to get your tickets to tonights Gen & Juice AI Mixer. 
We will be learning about Personal AI from our fantastic speaker, William Bown
I hope you can join us. Link in the comments. 

Hi 👋 I am Cameo Doran
▶ Helping Growth Stage Companies Speed-up The Process Of Getting from Idea To Profit 💡

Mad Scientist - software architect & founder #AI #XR #AIR

One of the best ways to grow is to spend time with people who are smarter than you.

William Bown is absolutely one of those people for me. I have known him for just about forever, and he is hands-down one of the smartest people you will ever meet. 

I’m excited to share that William will be our speaker for October’s Gen & Juice event.

Wil is the founder of iamai-core, an open-source project focused on making Personal AI accessible to everyone.

We will dig into Personal AI. What it really is, why running it locally matters for privacy and speed, and how close we are to assistants that live on our own devices.

This will be an interview-style conversation, so bring your best questions and let’s learn together.

Link to register in the comments

Would you fire an engineer that caused a major system outage?

Will you fire AWS for the same?

The 2025 double-edged sword:

You have to use AI for everything, absolutely everything.
If you’re not automating, optimizing, or 10x-ing, you are already behind.

But also… you better not let anyone even suspect you used AI for anything at all.
Your writing better sound completely human. Your designs better look completely authentic.

How are other people balancing this weird pressure to both use AI everywhere and hide it completly?

Dont confuse information with insight

A potential client recently told me they skipped "real" customer research because they had AI do it for them. 

Ugh! Can you guess how that turned out?

When you use AI this way, it is easy to get tricked. 
AI excels at gathering information. It's good at synthesizing, summarizing, and spinning out ideas and conclusions that look impressive. 

But real people are tricky. 
You can't even completely trust 'em when you talk to them yourself.  They're full of contradictions and unexpected behavior.  They say one thing and do another. They surprise you.

And that’s the point. 
It’s on those messy edges where real insight lives. It’s where you uncover the truths that actually lead to innovation.

AI can help with the cleanup. But it can’t replace the uncomfortable, human work of discovery.

Listen 👋 To 👋 Me! 


Spend no time on people or ideas that give you drama, insecurity, and anxiety!

Time wasted with them/it
Talking about it
Worrying about it 
Or overthinking a solution to appease them/it

That same time could be used creating the future you actually want with the kind of people you actually want to have around.

Lots of leaders hate to admit they don't know

They make bad decisions because they are so certain that they're right that they don't allow themselves to see the better alternatives or the risks. 

Every product failure I’ve ever seen starts with an assumption that no one dared question. 
- The customer will want this.
- This will solve our/their problems.
- Our competitors are already doing it.

If your process can’t handle being questioned, it’s not a process, it’s a belief system. And belief systems don’t ship good products.

That’s why my teams operate differently. We assume we’re wrong until evidence says otherwise.

Innovation doesn’t die from lack of ideas. It dies from leaders who are too sure they’re right.

AI wont take your job...

You will lose it in the 3rd round of layoffs after your company gets disrupted by an AI challenger that decimates market share.

Are you an artist or creative who is using AI heavily in your professional creative work?

I have a small but super interesting (and paid) opportunity for you.
I’m working with a client to develop a certification around rapid concept design using AI image generation tools like Nano Banana, Midjourney, and Firefly for creative fields like game design, fashion, marketing, character development, or other visual creative fields.

I am Looking for a small group of individuals who:
- Are actively using AI image gen tools to iterate on visual concepts
- Have experience maintaining consistency across designs
- Can talk about your process and best practices
- Are available for a couple of short sessions over the next 2-3 weeks
- Ideally based in Utah and willing to participate at in-person sessions

This is a multi-phased paid project , so I am looking for a few people for a couple of initial 2-hour sessions, then a slightly larger group for 20-40 hours through full development.

This is a legit certification that’ll reach thousands of high school and collage students across the US. If you’ve wanted to influence how the next generations learn to use these tools, now’s your chance.

DM or comment me if your interested or know someone who’d be great!

Which image is your favorite?


* No recruiters or staffing companies
* No corp to corp

Vibe coding always starts with confidence.

“This won’t take long.”

And then reality steps in

Do you invites criticism from your team?

I don’t mean, “Can you bounce back if someone criticizes you”

But instead… 
- Do you openly ask your team to call you out?
- Do you ask them to openly assess your performance?
- What if they negatively evaluated you as their manager? Can you take the hits like a champ?

Nope? 
I’ll admit it is sometimes a challenge for me too. 

But we should.

Kim Scott’s Radical Candor taught me that if we want to effectively GIVE candid feedback, we have to expose ourselves to our teams criticism and even their ridicule first.

And most importantly, we have to be ready to make changes.
We have to beg them to criticize us...and make it easy for them to do so.

What do you think, do you encourage your team to criticize you?

Please feel free to criticize me in the comments….

The most effective leaders I’ve met:

1. Are experts at listening.
2. Are grateful and humble.
3. Hold their opinions loosely.
4. Focus on developing others.
5. Work on continually learning.
5. Encourage strategic thinking and action. 
6. Don’t want to be the smartest person in the room.
7. Are self aware and believe in personal development. 

What would you add as #8?
What key leadership traits do you admire?

It’s not a bug if it’s working as designed, right? 

Would you feel comfortable knowing your kid was having any of these conversations with an AI? 

This is an absolutely appalling report from ParentsTogether Action about sexual exploitation, manipulation, and violence on Character AI kids' accounts. Yes, you read that right, kids accounts. 
(Link to full report in comments)

Keep in mind that Character AI's valuation is estimated to be over $1 billion, and it is on track to reach an annualized revenue of $50 million by the end of the year. 
Their series A in march raised $150 million and was led by Andreessen Horowitz.

What are your thoughts?

“The most important single aspect of software development is to be clear about what you are trying to build.”

Bjarne Stroustrup, the creator of the C++ programming language, said this in 2000.

It’s interesting because back in the day, a lot of the risk in software was technical.

The technical side is still hard, but that is changing. 

With modern tools and AI, it’s easier than ever to spin something up. The real challenge isn’t the tech anymore. 

It’s value and demand. 

If you don’t know what you’re trying to build, for whom and why, AI won’t save you. It will just accelerate the waste.

Stroustrup was right in 2000. He’s even more right today.

Do you agree?

“Hope clouds observation.” – Frank Herbert as Reverend Mother Mohiam

Most companies don’t fail for lack of data.
They fail because they trust their assumptions more than their evidence.

Being data-driven requires more than using data well.
You have to treat every assumption as wrong until you have evidence that shows otherwise.

Hope is not a strategy.


*my attempt to make an AI version of myself dressed as Reverend Mother. I was going for Cosplay, but instead I got a scary alter ego

No, Amazon wasn’t hacked.

But yesterday’s AWS outage was another reminder of how fragile the internet really is. One region had a hiccup, and half the internet stumbled.  

We keep talking about innovation, scale, and speed... while quietly ignoring how dependent everything has become on a few massive infrastructure providers. Add the explosive compute demands of AI, and the cracks are getting harder to ignore.

I’ve been building software long enough to know how much risk hides behind “it should be fine.” 

And lately, a few articles have been keeping me up at night:
Did you know that $26 billion in direct financial losses was caused by outages and hacks in 2024?

Global Tech Outages Cost Billions & Expose Digital Fragility 
https://lnkd.in/gcFYzax4

The systems we depend on most are the ones that laypeople understand the least and have the most inherent risks, and AI is amplifying that fragility faster than we can fix it.

That’s why my friend Lindsey Ivie 💭 asked me to participate in the CyberCraft Summit  It’s one of the few events tackling these problems head-on, bringing together people who actually build and defend the systems everyone else takes for granted.

If you care about resilience, security, and the future of how software is built, you really should be there.

I have a few 50% off codes, comment below and I will choose a couple of lucky winners. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why AI Requires a Resilient Internet – Internet Society (2025) https://lnkd.in/gb3AC5Pp

Artificial Intelligence and Critical Infrastructure – RAND Corporation (2024)
https://lnkd.in/gUypB6w6

Helping companies scale through strategic partnerships and events.

CyberCraft

Every enterprise and mid-market client I work with has the same brewing crisis. Their teams are stuck running on outdated technology, with no autonomy or budget to actually learn new ones.

These teams are underwater. They’re maintaining brittle systems built a decade ago, duct-taped together just enough to keep the lights on. 

Expecting them to “innovate” is like asking them to fly to the moon using a rocket they build out of office chairs and printer paper.

Meanwhile, the non-technical executives and board members have no idea how bad it really is. They think the engine’s running fine because the car still moves.

And then someone says, “We should add GenAI.”

So teams try to bolt cutting-edge technology onto a decaying foundation and hope it will magically transform the business. But the gap between what leadership imagines and what the teams can actually deliver is massive. Oftentimes virtually impossible to cross.

Put bluntly, most companies can’t adopt AI effectively because their core systems, structures, and skills are already too fragile.

Until leaders start fixing that, all the AI strategy and implementation in the world won’t save them.

Taplio

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