Product Strategy & Validation for Mentorix
LadyF AI
Building Mentorix From an Idea to 1,500+ Community Members
I started Mentorix because I saw a problem in how aspiring and early-career designers were learning, positioning themselves and trying to get jobs.
But seeing a problem wasn't enough.
Before building the full product, I needed to know whether the people I wanted to help actually experienced the problem strongly enough to act on it.
1. I tested the problem before building the product
I started with research, conversations and a waitlist rather than jumping straight into building an LMS.
The goal was to understand what people were struggling with, what they had already tried and what kind of support they would actually show up for.
What I learned changed what I built
The problem wasn't simply that people needed more UX lessons.
Many already had access to courses and tutorials.
The deeper gaps were around applying what they knew, understanding how businesses think, positioning themselves for opportunities and getting structured support while doing it.
That changed Mentorix from "another place to learn UX" into a mentorship system built around helping people apply what they learned.
2. I tested the service before investing in the full platform
3. Early behaviour showed that the approach was working
One of the clearest signals came from the UX Job Hacking Hub.
The first month was supposed to be preparation. Members were learning how to understand the people hiring them, think beyond designer language and communicate their value in business terms.
We hadn't even reached the full job-search strategy yet.
Three members reported getting jobs after applying just one part of what they had learned.
Another member who had stopped participating later contacted me to say he had also gotten a job and asked to return.
4. Demand shaped the product as it grew
As the community grew, I moved Mentorix beyond the initial waitlist and mentorship setup.
I designed the website and learning experience around the behaviours and needs I had already observed rather than deciding what an LMS should contain in isolation.
The result
Mentorix grew from an idea I was testing into a community of 1,500+ people, with 500+ mentees supported within the first six months.
More importantly, I didn't build the full system and then go looking for people who needed it.
I used research and real behaviour to decide what deserved to be built.
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Posted Mar 1, 2025
Validated demand before building the full product, growing Mentorix from an early mentorship concept to a community of 1,500+ & 500+ mentees within six months.
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Timeline
Apr 4, 2024 - Jan 7, 2025
