Start at the End: How to Build Products That Create Change book cover

Start at the End

How to Build Products That Create Change

Matt Wallaert
3.8(423 Reviews)

Overview of Start at the End

Matt Wallaert's "Start at the End" revolutionizes product design by focusing on behavioral outcomes first. Using his Intervention Design Process - showcased through Apple's iPhone and Flamin' Hot Cheetos success stories - this behavioral scientist reveals why most innovations fail: they forget to ask "what behavior are we changing?"

Key Themes in Start at the End

  • behavioral design
  • intervention design process
  • inhibiting pressures
  • behavioral gap analysis
  • evidence-based product development

Quotes from Start at the End

  • Start with the behavior you want to create, then work backward.

  • Evidence over assumptions.

  • Love isn't measurable or observable.

  • Effective behavioral statements should be bold rather than timid.

  • Rather than directly controlling behavior, we must influence these underlying forces.

Characters in Start at the End

  • Matt WallaertAuthor and behavioral scientist

About the Author

About the Author of Start at the End

Matt Wallaert, applied behavioral science pioneer and author of Start at the End: How to Build Products That Create Change, combines academic rigor with real-world execution. A former Microsoft Director of Behavioral Science and Clover Health’s inaugural Chief Behavioral Officer, Wallaert’s work bridges technology and human behavior, focusing on product design that drives measurable behavior change.

His book distills two decades of experience into actionable frameworks for building purpose-driven products, emphasizing strategy, insights, and impact evaluation.

Wallaert’s expertise is showcased through high-profile talks at the United Nations and SXSW, alongside equity-focused projects like GetRaised, which secured $3.6B in salary increases for underpaid women. As CXO at Oceans, he expands global job access, reinforcing his commitment to systemic change.

Known for blending humor and science in initiatives like the MediocreWhiteMen research, his approach democratizes behavioral science for professionals at all levels. Start at the End has become a cornerstone for product teams and executives, praised for its accessible, Ph.D.-free methodology to creating lasting impact.

Download Summary of Start at the End

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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
platform
comments
12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
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star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
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4.5K

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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
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483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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