Product Manager To Founder Journey

Not every PM-to-founder story is about “following your dream” and everything working out.

This event goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the real transition: the uncertainty, the trade-offs, the skills that transfer, and the ones that don’t.

Andre and Ernesto will talk openly about how they went from product management to entrepreneurship, what pushed them to take the leap, and what they wish they had known earlier.

## What you’ll hear

• Why they decided to leave product management and start companies.
• How product skills helped them as founders.
• The biggest struggles they faced during the transition.
• What they learned about leadership, resilience, and execution.
• Practical advice for anyone thinking about a founder path.

## Speakers

Andre Albuquerque
Founder at Builders Camp. Andre has a background in product building and team transformation, and he has worked across product and technical leadership environments. His story is especially relevant for anyone curious about how product thinking can evolve into company building.
LinkedIn

Ernesto Pino
Founder at **Bektor.ai**. Ernesto has built his career across product management, startups, and entrepreneurship, with experience spanning product strategy, payments, and founder-led execution. He brings a practical view of what it means to move from managing products to creating a new venture from scratch.
LinkedIn

## Why attend

This event is for anyone who is curious about the founder journey, especially if you work in product and have wondered what it would take to build something of your own.
You’ll leave with a clearer sense of:

• What PM experience gives you as a founder.
• Where the transition is harder than expected.
• How to think about risk, timing, and momentum.
• Whether founder life is truly the right next step for you.

## Event details

Date: 17th June 2026 @ 19:00
Location: Pl. de Manuel Gómez-Moreno, 2, Tetuán, 28020 Madrid
Hosted by: ProductTank Madrid
Sponsored by: Celonis

## Our Sponsor

Thank you to our sponsor, Celonis for sponsoring this ProductTank Madrid event and supporting the local product community!

Celonis is a global enterprise software company and the market leader in process mining and process intelligence.

Its platform uses real-time data to build a digital twin of business operations, allowing companies to visualize how processes actually run, identify inefficiencies, and automate improvements.

## RSVP section

Seats are limited, so make sure to reserve your spot early.
Register now and join the ProductTank Madrid community for a night of real stories, honest lessons, and great conversations.