#014 w/ Roshan Gupta: Millions of Users. Still a Failure. The Story behind Google Allo.
Roshan is the founder of AmplifyPM. Prev. he served as PM at Meta and as a Group PM at Google.Roshan Gupta had the kind of job most PMs dream of: Group Product Manager at Google, leading a 300-person org. Then, he gave it all up.He moved to Portugal and started a one-person company, betting everything on a single idea: PMs don’t fail because of their strategy—they fail because they can’t tell a compelling story.This episode is about two things:* The slow, painful death of Google Allo (yes, that failed messaging app).* And what Roshan thinks is the #1 skill every PM should master: persuasive storytelling.The Messaging App That Was Doomed From the StartIf you don’t remember Google Allo, you’re not alone. It launched in 2016, promised rich messaging, Google Assistant integration, and sleek features. But it never took off.Roshan, who led Allo’s growth, breaks it down simply:“We had a great product. What we didn’t have was distribution.”Allo was competing with WhatsApp in India—a market where SMS used to cost real money, and WhatsApp had already solved that pain. Meanwhile, Allo had to fight its way into phones one by one, even though Google already had Android Messages pre-installed.They tried everything:* SMS relays from a central number (which confused people)* Bundling with Android manufacturers* Targeting specific markets* Google Assistant baked into the appNone of it worked fast enough. And at Google’s scale, millions of users just isn’t enough.“Our growth outpaced Snapchat’s early years. But for Google, it wasn’t fast enough.”In 2018, the team was told to pause development. In 2019, Allo was shut down.Why Storytelling Is the Most Underrated PM SkillRoshan's biggest takeaway wasn’t about messaging apps. It was about people. Specifically, how PMs fail to communicate the value of their work.“There were amazing PMs at Google who didn’t get promoted—not because they didn’t do great work, but because they couldn’t persuade the org.”Roshan says great storytelling comes down to three things:* Clarity – Say one thing, not ten. “Adding more info is like adding water to wine.”* Compelling – Tie your story to something your audience wants. No one changes unless they want to.* Credibility – If people don’t trust you, your story won’t land. Trust is built over time, not in a single meeting.The Spicy Take: PMs Are Bad at Growing PMsRoshan’s new mission is to coach PMs into leadership. And he’s frustrated by how little companies invest in it:“You wouldn’t question an Olympic athlete hiring a coach. But in product, it’s seen as a weakness if you need one.”He argues we’re doing a terrible job building the next generation of leaders. Why?* Most PM skill matrices are vague or unreadable.* There’s no clear roadmap for how to level up.* And storytelling, stakeholder management, and positioning often go completely uncoached.His fix? Amplify PM, a coaching business that helps ICs step into leadership roles—without fluff.The Final LessonAllo failed. But Roshan didn’t. He moved on to lead Google Messages. Then, he walked away to do something that mattered more to him: teaching others how to lead.And if there’s one thing he hopes more PMs remember, it’s this:“Being comfortable with failure is what lets you take the risks that actually lead to growth.”LinksLink to Podcast Episode* 📹 YouTube* 🔊 Spotify* 🔊 Apple MusicIn case you want to reach out, please do so on LinkedIn:* ❤️🩹 Follow Hotfix: https://pal.bio/the-hotfix-podcast* 🎙️ Follow Christoph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophbodenstein/* 🎙️ Follow Stefan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-pernek-629901107/* This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thehotfixpodcast.substack.com
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