Anton Shakirov

I launch products: from an idea to first sales

A product rarely dies of bad code. It dies because nobody was waiting for it, or because there is nothing to say about it. I run the whole launch: study the market and the customers, 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 10 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.

Who this is for

You have an idea and no idea where to start

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.

The product exists, the sales do not

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.

A company is starting a new direction

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.

What a launch includes

Market, customers and competitors

I work out who your person is, what job they are solving today and what frustrates them about the current way. I look at competitors and at how they sell.

Meaning and positioning

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.

Spec and scope of the first version

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.

Economics and pricing

I calculate what the cost consists of and where the product earns. The price comes out of arithmetic, not out of a feeling.

Brand and packaging

Identity, tone, the look of the product and its materials. Drawn with designers I have worked with before, picked to fit the task.

Building the first version

I build the site, app or service myself with AI tools: weeks instead of months, while the code and the data stay yours.

Marketing and first sales

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.

Analytics and feedback

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.

Team and contractors

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.

How the work goes

  1. Conversation and assessment

    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.

  2. Market and customer research

    I study the audience, the competitors and how the job is being done today. This is also where it becomes clear whether the product is worth building as imagined.

  3. Meaning, positioning and economics

    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.

  4. Spec of the first version

    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.

  5. Design, brand and build

    We draw it with a designer, I build the product and connect analytics and everything you cannot sell without: payments, delivery, emails.

  6. Going to market

    We open the channels, bring the first people in, watch how they behave and fix what stops them from buying.

My launches

My own products, taken from an idea to the market by me: imagined, tested, built, packaged and sold. Before that I was CEO and co-founder of the Method Zero studio, where our team delivered more than 100 projects for Nike, Mercedes, MTS, VTB and Cian.

Here is what the people I work with say about me

Mikhail RozovFounder of Pinkman, Wannabe
Mikhail Rozov

“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.”

Stacey KapranchikEntrepreneur, blogger, creator
Stacey Kapranchik

“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! 💎🎶”

Alexander MazanovFounder of T-vision
Alexander Mazanov

"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."

Sergey OrekhovCEO & Co-founder of Pinkman
Sergey Orekhov

“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.”

Dmitry KosarevMarketing Director, Leninetz Holding
Dmitry Kosarev

“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!”

Yulia PopovaFounder of The Raw Bureau
Yulia Popova

"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."

Andrey RuzovFormer Design Director at LYAG
Andrey Ruzov

“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.”

Yuriy GilyovFounder of Etika Studio
Yuriy Gilyov

“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.”

Anastasia VolodinaFounder of WakeUp, Head of Design and Construction for Fitness Facilities
Anastasia Volodina

“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.”

Alexander NikonovInternational IT Fintech Company (NDA)
Alexander Nikonov

“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.”

Anatoly DenisovEditor-in-Chief, Runet Rating
Anatoly Denisov

“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.”

Daniil SukhorukovHead of production, Big agency (NDA)
Daniil Sukhorukov

“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.”

Ekaterina KazhaevaFounder of Dramkruzhok
Ekaterina Kazhaeva

“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

Ways to work together

Two ways to start. The first answers what we are making and for whom, the second takes the product to the market.

Launch groundwork

For those with an idea, or a product without sales

A short piece of work together that leaves you knowing what to do. We study the market, the customers and the competitors, find the positioning, do the arithmetic and describe the first version. After that you can build it yourself or come back to me.

  • Market, customer and competitor research
  • Positioning and the meaning of the product
  • Economics and pricing
  • Spec of the first version with the scope of work
  • A launch plan for the coming months
Discuss your product

Full launch

For those who need a result, not a document

I take the product from an idea to first sales and answer for the result. Part of the work I do with my own hands, for the rest I bring in designers, marketers and contractors I have worked with before.

  • Everything from the launch groundwork
  • Brand, packaging and design
  • Building the first version of the product
  • Marketing, channels and first sales
  • Analytics and fixes based on live data
Discuss your product

If the product interests me and money is tight at the start, I consider taking equity. That is discussed separately and does not replace the two formats above.

Questions

Tell me what you want to launch, I will look at the idea and suggest where to start

Discuss your product