Jonathan

Jonathan Waddingham

Helping product teams and founders cut through AI hype to build testable prototypes and validate ideas fast
Product Leader | AI, Digital Platforms, Innovation & Learning | Fractional CPO | Mission-Driven Tech

Areas of expertise

I help product teams and founders navigate the gap between promising ideas and proven market fit. You're often caught between AI hype and practical delivery, or struggling with products that aren't resonating despite significant investment. Common challenges include paralysis from too many possibilities, endless debates without resolution, fear of building the wrong thing, and pressure to move fast while minimizing risk. Teams frequently get stuck in analysis loops or rush to development without validation, burning time and resources on assumptions. I bring structure to ambiguous situations, rapidly prototype concepts for real-world testing, and help teams distinguish between what sounds good and what actually works. My approach transforms speculation into evidence-based decisions within days.

About Me

I'm Jonathan Waddingham, a Product Leader specializing in AI, digital platforms, and innovation. I help product teams and founders cut through uncertainty to figure out what to build next—and prove it will work before heavy investment. My experience includes building JustGiving Crowdfunding from concept to the UK's leading platform, raising £100m+ in five years, and serving as CPO at Lightful where I launched multiple AI-powered products and delivered 6 tested concepts in just 6 weeks through rapid prototyping sprints. I work with teams stuck between AI hype and delivery, or those with products that aren't landing and need clarity fast. I bring structure, speed, and hands-on prototyping to turn vague ideas into testable solutions with real users in days, not months. You'll go from debating ideas to having working prototypes, user feedback, and confident next steps.

Available for one-off sessions, ongoing sessions, project-based work, workshops or group sessions, fractional roles, and on-call advisory

Send Me a Message
Intro Call

30 minutes

A quick introductory call to discuss your needs and see if we're a good fit to work together. No commitment required.

View all sessions
Details

Level of Experience

Lead

Years of Experience

21 Years

Country

United Kingdom

Website

https://www.jonathanwaddingham.com/

Qualifications
BA (Hons), Philosophy and French King's College London 2000 - 2004
Generative AI Skilled! at Microsoft Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit Microsoft 2024 - 2024
Ethics in the Age of Generative AI LinkedIn 2023 - 2023
Social Links

  • AI Product Advisor & Consultant (Selective engagements)

    Advising organisations on product strategy, rapid experimentation and product discovery, particul...

  • Built UK's Leading Crowdfunding Platform from Concept

    Scaled JustGiving Crowdfunding to £100m+ raised in five years

  • Chief Product Officer at Lightful

    Led product, design and engineering across Lightful’s digital platform supporting charities wor...

Specialties and Expertise

Areas of Expertise

Product & Innovation

AI & Data Consulting

Leadership

Specialties

Product vision definition Feature prioritisation Competitive landscape review Map product roadmap Prioritise product bets Align product stakeholders Coach product managers Design product org Define product rituals Own product vision

Sessions

Intro Call

A quick introductory call to discuss your needs and see if we're a good fit to work together. No commitment required.

30 min
Book Now

Common Questions

I help product teams and founders cut through AI hype to build something real, and validate whether their ideas will actually work before they waste time and money on the wrong direction.

This is a good fit for product teams stuck between AI possibilities and practical delivery, and founders who need to move from debating ideas to testing them with real users quickly.

Working prototypes in days not months, real user feedback on your ideas, and teams that can move faster and make confident product decisions based on evidence rather than guesswork.

We'll clarify what you're actually trying to build or validate, cut through any AI confusion, and figure out the fastest way to get something testable in front of users.

I work hands-on to build prototypes and run validation sprints, combining strategy with actual building so you get both clarity and something concrete you can test immediately.