Product Leader · Maker · Problem-Obsessed

Hey, I’m
Bryan Fosler

Seven years building connected hardware products — from Trek’s $350M bike portfolio to Hammerhead’s Karoo GPS platform through a SRAM acquisition. I turn deep customer discovery into products that ship.

Bryan Fosler
7+
Years Product Experience
$350M+
Portfolio Managed
80K+
Users on Connected Hardware
6
Product Platforms Launched
Chapter I · Connected Hardware

Hammerhead

Recruited as the first hardware product manager to lead post-acquisition integration of Hammerhead into SRAM. Led the Karoo product line from Karoo 2 through the 2024 generation — unifying hardware and software product vision for the first time and developing the first 4+ year integrated HW/SW platform strategy. Launched with 56% YoY revenue growth and zero critical bugs in first 90 days.

Hammerhead Karoo GPS computer
Product · Hardware PM

Karoo Connected Platform

56%
YoY Revenue Growth

First hardware PM at Hammerhead. Led the product transition from Karoo 2 to the 2024 Karoo generation — owning the PRD, user testing, deep user research, workshops, and roadmapping. Unified hardware and software product strategy for the first time in the company's history. Developed a shared-architecture hardware platform (PC board, tooling, design) delivering 2x product output at 1.5x cost. Scoped display (292 PPI with anti-glare cover glass), battery optimization deep in Android, GPS chipset selection (dual-band GNSS), antenna tuning, and haptic button interface. Led the acquisition transition with SRAM. Mentored 3 product managers. Competing directly with Garmin Edge 850/1050 and Wahoo ROAM/BOLT.

Dual-Band GNSSBattery OptimizationAntenna TuningHW/SW UnifiedPost-M&APlatform Strategy
Karoo Color Shells — Elevation Series in Frost Gray, Haze Blue, Ascent Purple
Accessories · GTM

Color Shell Program

~60%
Gross Profit Margin

Designed and scaled an accessory product portfolio driving 60% YoY growth. Led community color research — candidates narrowed to finalists via community vote. Managed color tuning across TPU, buttons, and resin shell (different materials matched to feel unified). Karoo 2 kit ($39, 2021) and 2024 Elevation Series ($48 — Frost Gray, Haze Blue, Ascent Purple). Created recurring accessory revenue stream differentiating Karoo from fixed-color competitors.

Community ResearchColor TuningMaterial MatchingRevenue Diversification
Hammerhead Mounting System — HMS mount, AirTag holder, and GoPro adapter
Partner PM · Ecosystem

Hammerhead Mounting System

14+
Licensing Partners

Pioneered a standardized licensing platform from the ground up. Developed a standardized interface — 2D files with tolerances and fitment specs, 3D drawings, and manufacturing recommendations — enabling any third-party to implement Hammerhead's patented mount design. Led K-EDGE as the launch manufacturing partner, then expanded the ecosystem to 14+ partners sharing the patented design. This isn't just hardware — it's ecosystem strategy.

Licensing PlatformStandardized InterfacePatented DesignEcosystem Growth

Karoo GPS — connected cycling computer with 292 PPI display and haptic interface

Connected Platform

Unified Hardware & Software

Display, PCB, battery, sensors, and ruggedized housing — every layer engineered for daily outdoor use. One product vision unifying hardware and software for the first time.

56%
YoY Revenue Growth
4 Yrs
At Hammerhead
292 PPI
Display Density
May '24
Karoo Launch
Chapter II · Performance Road

Trek Bicycle

Thirteen years at Trek (2009–2022) — from forecasting and supply chain analytics to Road Bicycle Product Manager to Program Manager of Project One custom bikes. $350M portfolio across 1,500+ SKUs, multi-tier product platforms from entry aluminum to $15K+ configured-to-order. Delivered 6 major product platforms driving 20%+ growth.

Trek Domane SLR — IsoSpeed decoupler, carbon engineering, and race-ready endurance

Trek Domane SLR — endurance road platform
Platform PM · Multi-Tier

Domane Endurance Family

$1.2K–$15K+
Price Range

PM on Trek's Domane line — three tiers from entry aluminum to race-grade carbon: AL ($1.2K–2K), SL ($2.7K–5.5K), SLR ($6K–15K+). Owned IsoSpeed technology spec decisions across model years — a carbon decoupler at the seat tube that absorbs road vibration without suspension. Managed component supplier roadmaps, annual model-year cadence, and carbon grade transitions between tiers. GTM coordinated across 1,700+ North American dealers. Products raced at Paris-Roubaix.

IsoSpeed PlatformMulti-Tier SKUAnnual CadenceDealer GTMParis-Roubaix
Trek Speed Concept — integrated triathlon race system
Complex Platform · 5 Integrated Systems

Speed Concept TT/Tri

5
Integrated Accessory Systems

Trek's flagship triathlon and time-trial platform. Five integrated engineering domains solving complex user problems: CFD aero frame (16W advantage), modular fit cockpit with thousands of valid configurations, integrated nutrition and hydration storage (between-the-arms bottle, downtube bottle, bento box), downtube flat kit compartment, and IsoSpeed compliance tuning. Every accessory engineered for zero aero penalty. Managed fit constraints, UCI compliance, athlete sponsorship, and dealer certification. Ironman Kona. Tour de France.

CFD / AeroConfigured-to-OrderFit ComplexityIntegrated AccessoriesAthlete Program
Trek Project One — custom configured-to-order paint program
Business Strategy · P&L Ownership

Scale & Profitability

$350M
Portfolio P&L

Owned $350M portfolio P&L across 1,500+ SKUs with 2-3 year forward roadmaps. Delivered 6 major product platforms driving 20%+ growth. BOM complexity of 20-30 major suppliers per model. Annual model-year cadence with Good/Better/Best tier architecture. Global distribution and regulatory compliance across 90+ countries. Selected for expanded program management role — led cross-functional teams across product, design, manufacturing, marketing, and supply chain to deliver the Project One configured-to-order platform, including a first-of-its-kind fully customized paint program. Earlier at Trek: 6 years in forecasting, sourcing, and data analytics managing 4,000+ SKUs and building predictive demand models.

P&L OwnershipProject One ProgramGlobal GTM6 Platforms Launched20%+ Growth
Speed Concept · 5 Integrated Systems

Not a Bicycle — a Race System

Every component engineered to add zero aero drag. Five distinct domains that all coexist in one platform.

Speed Concept — 4-panel overview of integrated systems

Five integrated engineering domains in one race machine

Speed Concept bento box nutrition storage

Integrated bento box — 8+ gels, zero aero penalty

Speed Concept modular fit cockpit

Modular cockpit — thousands of valid fit configurations

Speed Concept aero downtube bottle

Aero downtube bottle — 700ml, flush-mount cage

Speed Concept hidden flat kit compartment

Hidden flat kit — CO₂, tube, tools inside the downtube

13 Yrs
At Trek
$350M
Portfolio P&L
6
Platforms Launched
1,700+
NA Dealers
Chapter III · Customer Research

Jobs to Be Done

Leading full-cycle product discovery — from generative research through feature definition — for a connected device expanding beyond the typical road cyclist into underserved rider segments.

role
Hardware Product Manager
duration
6 months
team
PM, ID, HW Eng, SW Eng, Product Design
methods
JTBD, Interviews, Survey (n=2,500+), Workshops
2,500+
Survey Respondents
100+
Outcomes Tested
5
Continents
~50 Hrs
Interview Time
Phase 1
Interview
Define the problem
Phase 2
Survey
Rank opportunities
Phase 3
Ideate
Create solutions
Phase 4
Define & Select
Refine & bundle
Phase 5
Exec Summary
Product vision
The Challenge

We were expanding beyond our core user. We needed to understand why riders were underserved.

The cycling computer market was dominated by road-focused devices. An entire segment of riders — including mountain bikers — had needs that weren't being met. We set out to answer fundamental questions: How do they use data and technology? What differentiates their experience? And what are the highest-value problems nobody is solving?

Process

A structured approach to messy discovery

I designed and led a 5-phase research process that balanced rigor with the creative messiness that good discovery requires. Cross-functional collaboration across hardware PM, software PM, industrial design, hardware engineering, software engineering, and product design.

Phase 1
Interview
Define the problem
Phase 2
Survey
Rank opportunities
Phase 3
Ideate
Create solutions
Phase 4
Define & Select
Refine & bundle
Phase 5
Exec Summary
Product vision

Cross-functional collaboration across HW & SW

Product Mgmt
Business Objectives
HW Engineering
Feasibility
SW Engineering
Platform & Mobile
Design
User Needs
Research

From conversations to conviction

Jobs-to-be-Done

Uncovering what riders are really trying to accomplish — not what features they want, but the underlying jobs they hire products to do.

Think, Feel, Act

Riders in real scenarios: What are you THINKING? What do you FEEL? What do you DO next? Revealing emotional and behavioral patterns standard interviews miss.

Outcome Statements

Every interview synthesized into measurable expressions of what riders want to achieve. These became the backbone of the entire program.

Job Map: Navigation While Riding

Define

Determine trail preferences and conditions before heading out

Locate

Find trails and routes that match criteria, planned or on the fly

Prepare

Set up device, load route, confirm key trail details

Confirm

Verify correct trail and heading the right direction

Execute

Navigate in real-time with minimal distraction

Monitor

Stay aware of upcoming trail features and turns

Modify

Adjust route on the fly without stopping

Conclude

End ride and review for future planning

Quantifying opportunity at scale

Not all problems are equally important — to customers or to the business. The I/S framework surfaces the problems with the highest importance and lowest satisfaction. Those are the highest-value opportunities to build for.

Importance vs. Satisfaction

Lower-right quadrant = high importance, low satisfaction. These are problems riders care deeply about that nobody is solving well — the highest-value opportunities for the product.

Importance →
Satisfaction →
Over-Served
Appropriately Served
★ Opportunity
Table Stakes

Illustrative. Green dots highlight high-importance, low-satisfaction outcomes — the opportunity zone.

Ideation Workshop

Bringing research to life with cross-functional ideation

I organized and facilitated a multi-day cross-functional workshop that brought together product management, industrial design, hardware engineering, software engineering, and product design. The workshop was carefully structured around three inputs: research-backed rider archetypes, prioritized outcome statements from the I/S analysis, and a technology landscape prepared by engineering.

Rider Archetype Cards

The Data Optimizer

age range
25-45
riding motivation
it's a numbers game — seeing metrics improve over time
  • great grasp on the digital bike experience
  • experiments with the latest digital tech
  • knows all the faults of current solutions
  • wants to see where AI can take cycling
  • safety first; radar is critical

The Hands-On Builder

age range
45-65
riding motivation
the thrill of going fast on something they've built and tuned themselves
  • wants the best gear, doesn't care where it's from
  • a tinkerer by nature
  • does their own bike building and maintenance
  • interested in the mechanical and hands-on perspective

The Professional Racer

age range
20-40
riding motivation
to win
  • weight weenie
  • has all equipment gifted / given to them
  • has a team behind them
  • doesn't ride with a phone

The Endurance Seeker

age range
35-65
riding motivation
nothing like the feeling of getting faster and stronger
  • solo rider, has a coach
  • may do some racing but primary competition is with themselves
  • not super interested in bike maintenance

The Tastemaker

age range
25-45
riding motivation
looking good is half the fun — the bike is an extension of personal style
  • aesthetics matter as much as performance
  • active on social media, shares ride content
  • curates their setup carefully

The Social Rider

age range
25-50
riding motivation
the social experience and the adventure of exploring new trails
  • rides for fun, not training
  • group ride organizer
  • values navigation and trail discovery
  • uses technology casually

Workshop in Action

The workshop used a structured Figma environment where cross-functional teams worked through prioritized outcome statements, generated solutions, and evaluated them against feasibility constraints in real time.

Full workshop environment — research inputs, ideation boards, and feature analysis across multiple sessions

Full workshop environment — research inputs, ideation boards, and feature analysis across multiple sessions

Solution analysis and bundling — cross-functional teams evaluating and prioritizing feature concepts

Solution analysis and bundling — cross-functional teams evaluating and prioritizing feature concepts

Personas

The riders we designed for

From 100+ interviews and 2,500+ survey responses, we distilled the mountain bike audience into distinct personas.

🚵
I go out mountain biking and it's a nice way to connect with nature and free my mind.
Stats
34 / Landscape designer / 3-4x week
Goals
Fun in nature, ride with friends, stay safe
P1

The Weekend Explorer

Behaviors

Rides mid-range equipment, doesn't modify it. Social riding is the main draw. The group text thread matters more than the GPS.

Technology

Not overly technical. Checks weather on a browser. Appreciates simplicity and low-maintenance tech.

Casual
Serious
Feeling
Thinking
Low Risk
Thrill Seeker
🏆
I'm a competitive person. I enjoy pushing myself using any and all tools to get a marginal gain.
Stats
28 / Remote engineer / 5-6x week
Goals
Optimize performance, track every metric
P2

The Competitive Edge

Behaviors

Life revolves around bikes. Competitive racer using coaches and structured training. Splits time between road and off-road.

Technology

Borderline data nerd. Monitors HR, power, glucose, gear position. Post-ride analysis is as important as in-ride data.

Casual
Serious
Feeling
Thinking
Low Risk
Thrill Seeker
❤️
Biking came at a time where my mental health was at a low level. It brought me out of that.
Stats
35 / Healthcare worker / 3-4x week
Goals
Better at climbs, build technical skills
P3

The Late Convert

Behaviors

Started riding during a health crisis. Now fits biking into everything. Loves long XC trails. Bought gear on marketplace forums.

Technology

Relies on a cycling computer for tracking and safety. Prefers post-ride analysis over live monitoring. Did deep forum research before buying.

Casual
Serious
Feeling
Thinking
Low Risk
Thrill Seeker
📱
I want to see where AI can take cycling. I know all the faults of my current setup.
Stats
38 / PM at a tech company / 4-5x week
Goals
Latest tech, metrics improvement, safety
P4

The Early Adopter

Behaviors

Great grasp on the digital bike experience. Experiments with the latest tech. Active in online communities. Provides detailed manufacturer feedback.

Technology

Early adopter. Runs beta firmware. Has opinions on protocols. Wants open APIs and customization. Radar and crash detection are non-negotiable.

Casual
Serious
Feeling
Thinking
Low Risk
Thrill Seeker
Workshop → Feature Definition

From insight to product vision

The workshop's repeatable 4-step process — connecting user stories from research directly to engineering feasibility checks in real time.

Step 1

Story

A specific user scenario grounded in research

Step 2

Sketch

Quick visual exploration, low-fidelity, many options

Step 3

Feature Def

Refined concept with clear scope and acceptance criteria

Step 4

Eng. Check

Feasibility validation with implementing partner

Outcomes

What this work delivered

Research Foundation

Deep understanding of an underserved market

100+ interviews generating 383 insights and 2,500+ survey responses replaced assumptions with evidence across the organization.

Quantified Priorities

100+ outcome statements ranked by opportunity

The I/S framework gave the team a shared, data-driven language for prioritization — eliminating opinion-based debates.

Cross-Functional Alignment

Engineering, Design, and Product speaking the same language

By the time we reached feature definition, every function already had deep context from shared research.

Product Vision

383 insights drove 26+ hardware and software features

An executive summary connecting every feature back to a quantified rider need — ready for the Define phase.

Repeatable Process

A discovery framework the org can reuse

The 5-phase process and feature workflow became the standard for subsequent programs.

2,500+
Respondents
383
Insights Generated
26+
Features Driven
100+
Interviews

This case study describes methodology and process. Specific product details, data, and business strategy remain confidential.

Chapter IV · AI Tools & Technical Fluency

Builder

Product leaders should leverage the latest tools. I've built and deployed apps and AI agent systems leveraging LLMs to automate workflows, system monitoring, and command execution. Deep experience applying prompt engineering and structured output design to product requirements, user research synthesis, and development workflows.

ClawDeck — AI chat client for macOS with multi-agent routing

ClawDeck

A full-featured AI chat client for macOS, iOS, and Apple Watch. Multi-agent routing, file navigation, conversation history, approval workflows, and deep settings customization. Showcases product thinking applied to developer tooling — not just a wrapper, but a considered UX layer on top of LLM capabilities.

macOSiOSApple WatchMulti-AgentClaude API
MIDIControl — Chase Bliss pedal control interface

MIDIControl

Hardware-software bridge for Chase Bliss audio pedals. MIDI protocol implementation with real-time parameter control, HDMI visualization of signal routing, and pedal state simulation. The kind of connected device integration that comes from understanding both the hardware constraints and the user's creative workflow.

MIDI ProtocolSwiftUIHardware IntegrationReal-Time Control
openclaw
$ openclaw agent run --workflow daily
▸ Loading agent config...
▸ Connecting to LLM provider
✓ 3 tools registered
✓ Workflow "daily" started
▸ Collecting customer insights...
▸ Running sentiment analysis
✓ 47 insights processed → report.md
$ █

OpenClaw

AI agent system leveraging LLMs to automate workflows, system monitoring, and command execution across local and cloud environments. Lightweight tools for collecting customer insights, sentiment analysis, and market positioning — applying AI to the product discovery process itself.

LLM AgentsWorkflow AutomationCustomer InsightsPython
6+
Tools Shipped
3
Platforms
3
Languages (TS/Py/Swift)
2026
Latest Ship
Available Now

Let's Talk
Product

I keep a short calendar and I'm direct. If the role is interesting, we'll know within 30 minutes.