Product roadmaps change significantly as products move through different lifecycle stages.

• Early-stage products. The roadmaps typically have shorter time horizons with frequent updates. These roadmaps focus on proving product viability, acquiring initial users, and establishing market fit. The horizon for startup roadmaps is usually shorter because predicting future requirements is difficult when you're still learning about your customers. Early-stage products often need to "always be shipping" with rapid release cycles to quickly validate assumptions.
• Established products. As products mature, roadmaps can extend further into the future with more confidence. Established products have a better understanding of their customers and market, allowing for more reliable long-term planning. Release cycles often become more structured and less frequent.
• Mature products also face more complex dependencies. While startups can "move fast and break things," established products must consider legacy systems, third-party integrations, and potential regression issues. Their strategic goals shift from rapid growth and market validation to maintaining position, expanding to new segments, and improving operational efficiency.