About Technical Foundations
Hi, I'm Colin Matthews 👋
I help product managers and business leaders build technical confidence through real-world case studies and practical examples. No computer science degree required.
Why This Newsletter Exists
Every product manager has been there: sitting in a technical meeting, nodding along while feeling completely lost. I created Technical Foundations to solve this common challenge.
This newsletter breaks down complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights you can use immediately in your work. Whether you're trying to understand API design, system architecture, or how to evaluate engineering timelines, I've got you covered.
What You'll Learn
Every week, you'll receive practical guidance on topics like:
Application Architecture & APIs
Software Development Lifecycle
Data Fundamentals
AI Implementation
System Scaling
Technical Decision Making
No jargon, no fluff - just clear explanations and real-world applications.
What People Think
I also teach live, cohort-based courses over on Maven. Here’s a few reviews of my course, Technical Foundations for Product Managers:
My Background
I completed an undergraduate degree in Business and Computer Science. Since then, I’ve:
Got into a startup incubator (didn’t work out)
Helped transition 4 hospital systems from paper to electronic medical records
Worked in product in a start up (<$5M ARR) and large enterprise ($1B+)
Built 5+ SaaS products, sold one
Taught 7+ online courses
Most recently, I’ve been working on building highly scalable health data exchange systems at Datavant.
I've spent my career bridging the gap between technical and business teams. Through Technical Foundations, I share the frameworks and mental models that help product managers thrive in technical discussions.
Start Here
New to Technical Foundations? Start with these essential reads:
Let's Connect
Have questions or feedback? Leave a comment or send me a note on Substack!
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