Aha! Co-Founder and CEO Brian de Haaff receives Gold Stevie Award for thought leadership

We have always believed that sharing how we build is part of building well. It is rooted in our experience building Aha! differently: no VC funding, no sales team, 100% remote from the start. We have done our best to show the reality of that adventure and what it means to build a company that stays true to its values. Today, we are proud to announce that Aha! Co-Founder and CEO Brian de Haaff has been recognized for shaping that approach.

Brian de Haaff was just named Thought Leader of the Year in the Business Products category of the 2025 American Business Awards. He received the Gold Stevie Award — the highest distinction in the category.

Learn about the American Business Awards and browse the list of winners

This recognition speaks to how we go boldly and challenge the usual way of doing things. We popularized the Minimum Lovable Product concept to emphasize building with heart and delivering real value. We formalized The Responsive Method as a framework for achieving sustainable success through urgency, transparency, and kindness. Most recently, we published The Aha! Framework for product development to help product builders balance a structured process with the flexibility needed to move fast.

Brian has written hundreds of posts about what it takes to grow a meaningful and sustainable business. And in 2023, he launched The Startup Adventure newsletter to expand on the lessons learned and share the Aha! philosophy even more broadly with the product community.

"Brian de Haaff is a standout thought leader — combining principled, people-first leadership with bold, practical ideas that challenge the status quo. His frameworks and writing have reshaped how product teams think about sustainable growth and purposeful innovation." — 2025 Stevie Awards judge

The timing of this recognition feels especially relevant. The software industry is shifting quickly, and not everyone has been able to stay the course. We are proud to have stayed true to how we work and clear in what we build — and we are fortunate that it continues to serve us well. This award might have one name on it, but it reflects the achievements of our entire team. Likewise, we are grateful for the thousands of customers who have chosen to grow with us.

"If you find a trusted business partner like I did with Chris Waters, exceptional folks decide to join your adventure, and you have some good fortune, you can build something that thrives for over a decade. That is what we have done with Aha! and it has been one of my proudest pursuits." — Brian de Haaff, Aha! co-founder and CEO

This is a meaningful moment for the Aha! team. Thank you to the American Business Awards for the honor.

Want to read more? You can find Brian's latest thoughts here.