Richard Abi Chahla
Product Manager
Richard Abi Chahla is the Product Manager at Start Me Up AI and founder of Purple Brains, a boutique product consultancy. With 25+ years of hands-on product leadership, he has guided products across 15+ industries from idea to launch, and helps SMUAI turn ambitious startup ideas into focused, market-ready products.
Background
Richard founded Purple Brains in 2011, a consultancy specializing in product strategy, fractional Chief Product Officer services, MVP validation, and product roadmapping. Since 2009 he has bootstrapped multiple ventures — from SaaS platforms to mobile applications — and has led and consulted for numerous tech startups, taking them from early idea to launch.
His experience spans a broad range of sectors, including AgriTech, LegalTech, HealthTech, and SaaS, giving him a pragmatic, market-first perspective on building products people actually use.
Areas of Expertise
- Product Strategy: Positioning, prioritization, and go-to-market planning
- Design Thinking: Customer experiments and user-centered discovery
- MVP Validation: Testing assumptions before committing to build
- Roadmapping: Turning vision into a clear, deliverable plan
- Agile Delivery: Leading cross-functional teams of designers, developers, and marketers
Approach
Richard brings a founder's mindset to product management: reduce uncertainty, make the call, and keep teams aligned around what matters most. At Start Me Up AI, he ensures every build is grounded in real user needs and shaped by a clear path to market.
Get in Touch
Interested in discussing product strategy or how to take your idea from concept to launch?
Contact the Team