
Substack
Launched Retool's app template marketplace driving 28% of new activations. Ex-Stripe PM.

Launched template marketplace driving 28% of activations with 67% activation rate
Retool's blank canvas onboarding had a 23% activation rate (defined as building a functional app within 7 days). New users, especially non-engineers, struggled to understand what was possible and how to structure their first internal tool.
Led a cross-functional team of 4 to build a template marketplace with 150 curated templates across 12 categories (CRM dashboards, inventory management, customer support tools, etc.). Designed a "fork and customize" flow that preserved template structure while allowing modifications. Added usage analytics to surface trending templates.
Templates became the starting point for 28% of all new projects. 7-day activation rate for template-starters hit 67% vs. 23% for blank canvas. Time-to-first-app dropped from 4.6 days to 1.2 days. Templates were cited in 3 of Retool's top 5 enterprise deals in Q4.

Stripe Dashboard extensions were limited to Stripe-built features. Merchants needed custom integrations (Salesforce sync, inventory alerts, etc.) but had to build outside Stripe.
Defined the Stripe Apps platform spec, API surface, and review guidelines. Worked with 20 design partners to validate the extension model. Built the app marketplace with install flows, permissions, and billing.
Launched with 45 partner apps at GA. 12K installs in the first 60 days. Top 3 apps (Salesforce, Mailchimp, Intercom) each drove $200K+ in associated Stripe volume per month.