Mark Lichman · Product leader and maker

Start the side project you keep thinking about.

I spend my days leading product and my evenings building things on the side. I help people turn a nagging idea into something real people can use, and enjoy the building along the way.

Book a discovery call See what I'm building

What I'm building

Side projects, built in public.

I practise what I'll help you do. Each of these started as a small idea I couldn't stop thinking about.

Live · founding drive open

The Learning Collective

A community for experienced tech people figuring out what's next. Small peer groups, one small daily practice, and people who notice when you stop.

jointlc.org →

In development

HabitCrafts

Helps coaches and authors turn their book, course or method into small daily practices their clients actually keep.

habitcrafts.com →

Prototype

Lantern

A gentle bedtime reading companion for kids. Built with a small team at a Stanford EdTech hackathon, now in a two-week viability sprint.

More soon

Start yours

You don't need a plan. You need a first step that feels good.

You have a day job and an idea that won't leave you alone.
You're between roles and want to build something that shows how you think.
You've started before and stalled somewhere around week two.

Name the itch

Who is it for, what job are they trying to get done, and why are you the one to build it. We map it together.

Talk to five people

Before you build anything, have real conversations. I'll show you how to run interviews that surface what people won't say outright.

Build the smallest real thing

Something a stranger can use in a weekend's worth of work. AI makes this faster than ever, if you know where to point it.

Keep going

Most side projects die of silence, not failure. We set up the routines and small habits that keep you shipping.

Side project kickoff

Start with a conversation about your idea and where you're stuck.

Book a call

"When I feel good, those around me feel good." Joy isn't the reward for finishing. It's how you finish.

The same tools that changed how I work, small routines, honest reflection and the right guide, are what get a side project from idea to launch.

Kind words

From people I've built with.

"Working with Mark is like collaborating with a trusted friend. We worked together on a Job Map for a new business concept of mine and the process was eye-opening. If you have an idea for a new product or service in mind, I would highly recommend working with Mark."

Brooke TichenorFounder, Interview-Ally

"Mark continues to be a huge help in our product discovery work. He is practical: he runs great user interviews, is quick with wireframe designs, and is good at facilitating product tradeoff decisions."

Josiah MeyerCo-Founder & CEO, HealthLeap

"Mark's superpower blend of strategic thinking and empathy allows him to delve into the nuances of behavior and create solutions that resonate on a human level."

Jemimah MeyerCo-Founder & Head of Product, HealthLeap

About

Hi, I'm Mark.

I've spent more than 15 years in healthtech and startups, mostly as a product leader, helping teams find product market fit and build cultures people actually enjoy.

In 2021 my father passed, and I spent months disengaged from work and family. Coaches helped me rebuild, first my health and then my mindset. The shifts were faster than I expected. That's when I learned that change sticks when you pair practical habits with the right guide.

Now I build side projects in public and help other people start theirs.

Mark

Writing

Notes from building.

A daily learning log. Ten to fifteen minutes, no AI, something I actually learned that day.

Nov 3, 2025

What's the idea you keep coming back to?

Tell me about it. The first conversation is about your idea, not a sales pitch.

Book a discovery call