Products fail to take off not because of bad code or missing features. They miss the market: what people actually want and what they are ready to pay for. Almost all of it can be learned upfront, faster and cheaper than months of building blind.
So I run the whole launch: I study the market and the customers, do the research, find the reason people will pay, build the first version and take it to real people. I bring my own designers and marketers, the ones I have already worked with. I launched 20+ products and companies from scratch myself, and with my team at Method Zero we delivered more than 100 projects for Nike, Mercedes, MTS, VTB and Cian.
You are a specialist or an entrepreneur, and the idea lives in your head and your notes. You need someone who takes it to a first version and first money, not to a deck.
Everything works, but people either never arrive or leave without a word. We need to understand who you sell to and why, then repackage the product around that.
The main business works and must not suffer. We build the new direction next to it, with a separate team and separate accountability for the result.
I work out who your person is, what job they are solving today and what frustrates them about the current way. Where it helps, I talk to customers directly: interviews and surveys show what numbers do not. I look at competitors and at how they sell.
I put into words why people buy the product and why they choose it over the familiar option. The name, the copy and the ads all grow out of that.
Together we decide what goes into the first version and what waits. Scenarios, screens and logic are written down before the work starts, so the scope does not drift.
I calculate what the cost consists of and where the product earns. The price comes out of arithmetic, not out of a feeling.
Identity, tone, the look of the product and its materials. Drawn with designers I have worked with before, picked to fit the task.
I build the site, app or service myself with AI tools: weeks instead of months, while the code and the data stay yours.
Channels, copy, landing pages, ads and content. Some of it I do myself, some goes to marketers from my team while I stay responsible for the result.
I set up metrics and watch how real people behave. A first version is almost always wrong in the details, and you want to learn that fast.
I bring in people I trust for specific tasks and manage them myself. You do not have to assemble a team or judge who is any good.
We look at what already exists, what you want and what is in the way. After that I name the format, the timeline and the price.
I study the audience and the competitors and, where it helps, run interviews with your customers and surveys. This is also where it becomes clear whether the product is worth building as imagined.
I define what people pay for, who they are and at what price. It goes into a short document that the product and the marketing then follow.
I describe the scope: scenarios, screens, logic, what is in and what is postponed. From there the timeline and the cost of building are clear.
We draw it with a designer, I build the product and connect analytics and everything you cannot sell without: payments, delivery, emails.
We open the channels, bring the first people in, watch how they behave and fix what stops them from buying.
“In a partnership, Anton always commits fully. If you’ve agreed on something, there’s no need to control, remind, or clarify — Anton just does it. He’s someone who plays seriously, and you can feel that.” “Working with him is genuinely exciting, because he doesn’t just complete projects — he lives them.”
“Anton is a practitioner to his core! A structure-driven person. A strategist of godlike level! And a brilliant teacher and guide into the world of marketing and technology!” “Thank you for being here! Grateful for all your advice and priceless communication. You’re my personal top of the tops! 💎🎶”
"Working with Anton is, above all, a synonym for comfort and a thoughtful, balanced approach. Communication with him is free of conflict or misunderstandings — he builds it in the most constructive, calm, and focused way. What stands out most is his absolute reliability. If an agreement is made, you can be sure the result will follow, without the need for micromanagement or reminders. He simply takes full responsibility and sees things through, showing maturity and deep involvement."
“Anton Shakirov was the co-founder and CEO of Method Zero, part of the Pinkman group. He was always highly proactive, stayed composed in tough situations, and made clear decisions even in times of complete uncertainty. You can truly rely on him — a responsible, honest, and trustworthy person.”
“This was the most effective brainstorming session of my life! We’ve already scheduled more consultations with Anton — to review results, make adjustments and improvements, and come up with new creative ideas. Highly recommend! It’s incredibly refreshing and motivating!”
"Working with Anton on my business in Dubai has been one of the most productive and inspiring experiences recently. He helps not only with marketing but also with organizing the team across different countries, positioning products, and shaping the overall strategy."
“Working with Anton is always a great experience. You can fully trust him. He doesn’t just complete tasks — he immediately sees how to do them better, asks the right questions, offers solutions, and brings everything to an ideal result.”
“Why it was valuable and why I recommend it: – A very competent outside perspective on your business. – Extremely practical and specific advice: where to find a certain specialist, how much to pay different roles, how to structure the organization, etc. In short, Anton answered and guided me on nearly everything I had long been unsure about — when I had no one else to ask.”
“I regularly reach out to Anton for expert assessments and recommendations. He has broad perspective and a clear understanding of what to do in difficult situations. He sees where focus is needed, how to set the right priorities, and where to move forward.”
“We’ve been working closely and consistently with Anton for over three years — during this time, we’ve completed more than 30 joint projects for the marketing of an international fintech company across 20+ countries.”
“A true professional, attentive to detail, with excellent communication skills. What’s especially great is that you can easily resume work even after a break — Anton has an excellent memory, and there’s no need to repeat anything.”
“I worked with Anton Shakirov on numerous projects aimed at improving user interfaces. His analytical approach and attention to detail helped significantly increase conversion rates and boost user and client satisfaction for small and medium-sized businesses.”
“There’s no need to even talk about Anton’s professionalism and responsibility — it’s all at the highest level. To be honest, I didn’t expect Anton to look at the project so broadly and deeply, and to stay involved even in the tiniest details before the launch.”
Who I have worked with
When you need a result, not advice
I get my hands in and take the product from an idea to first sales together with you. Part of the work I do myself, for the rest I bring designers and marketers I have worked with. I answer for the result.
When you have a team but need a lead to run the work, keep it in check and get it launched
I take on separate pieces: somewhere I dig in and advise, somewhere I do the work myself, somewhere I brief your people and check what came out. You move on your own, and I keep you from turning the wrong way.
If the product interests me and money is tight at the start, I consider taking equity. That is discussed separately.