Experiments in Product Development – with Nils Stotz (Experimentation @ Zalando, ex Contentful)

Culture, Organizational Maturity, and the Impact of AI

In the ninth episode of the PRODUKTKRAFT Podcast, everything revolves around the role of experiments in digital product development – and Nils Stotz is the perfect person to talk to about it.

Nils combines academic depth and operational breadth in his career: he has not only published research on experimental product development but has also written a book about it. At the same time, he brings practical experience from startups like the insurtech Getsafe and Likeminded, from scale-ups like Contentful, and from his current role at Zalando, where he is a driving force behind experimentation.

We talk about why experiments matter so much for modern product development, what maturity organizations need for them – and where they aren’t the right approach. Nils shares concrete insights into how a culture of experimentation can be built and sustained over the long term, what hurdles come up along the way – and what role leadership plays.

A special highlight: How is AI changing the way we test hypotheses, make decisions, and let products learn? We look at what is already possible today – and what could be reality tomorrow.

An episode for anyone who wants to know how solid methods, the courage to embrace uncertainty, and organizational reality can be brought together in a meaningful way. Well worth a listen!