pitchsee
Launching a business

 

Perhaps you’ve heard about startup success stories and have wished to start one of your own, but felt unsure about how to come up with a good idea and execute it. It’s easy to believe that startup founders are brilliant individuals who possess divine inspiration, but the truth is that anyone can generate a successful idea if they’re willing to dedicate time and develop skills such as creative thinking, empathy, and perseverance in the face of setbacks. These blinks provide a comprehensive guide, with step-by-step instructions, to establishing your own side business or startup, including techniques for creating a good concept and methods for presenting it to prospective investors.

 

When we encounter problems in our daily lives, our instinct is often to avoid or ignore them. But for aspiring entrepreneurs, problems can actually be a great source of inspiration. By becoming a problem seeker, one can analyze the frustrations they face throughout the day and identify opportunities for innovation.

 

One successful entrepreneur turned her problem of finding clothes that fit into a business opportunity. After ripping her favorite pair of jeans, she realized how difficult it was to find clothes that fit properly. This led her to start an innovative website that helps women find clothes that fit them. Similarly, Anurag Acharya found inspiration for Google Scholar by reflecting on the difficulties he faced in accessing academic articles as a student in India.

 

To choose the perfect problem to solve, it is helpful to evaluate each problem against objective criteria, such as whether there is a big market for the solution and whether you have the necessary expertise to tackle it. However, intuition should also play a role. If a problem truly excites you, it may be the one to pursue.

 

Once a problem has been chosen, it is important to write a problem statement that accurately and specifically describes the problem and who it affects. This statement can serve as a roadmap for identifying solutions and developing a plan of action.

 

By shifting our mindset and embracing problems as opportunities for innovation, we can find inspiration for creating successful startups. So the next time you encounter a frustrating problem, try looking at it from a new perspective and see if it sparks a brilliant idea.

 

Getting to Know Your Target Audience

Identifying your target audience is essential when developing a product or service. While you may have a fantastic idea for a solution to a problem, you need to ensure that it meets the needs of the people who will use it. One way to do this is by creating a persona, a model of your invention’s target user. This is particularly useful if your target market is significantly different from you. By developing a persona, you can put yourself in the shoes of the user and consider their preferences and needs.

 

However, a persona is only based on assumptions, and it’s important to conduct research to validate your assumptions. Amazon, for example, encourages its employees to interact with its customers to stay connected to the real world of the user. Open-ended questions are a great tool for conducting research, as they allow people to talk about what really matters to them. But, be aware that what people say they do and what they actually do can be very different. To gather more accurate insights into your target customer, start observing people’s behavior in the real world.

 

For example, researcher Paul-Jervis Heath of the design agency Modern Human once asked people about their spending habits. The responses he received were very mature, but when he asked the same people to keep a diary of daily expenses, he noticed that their actual behavior was wildly different from what they had reported. By observing people’s behavior, you can gain valuable insights into their needs, wants, and preferences, and use this information to create a product that truly meets their needs.

 

Identifying your target audience is crucial when developing a product or service. By observing people’s behavior in the real world, you can gain valuable insights into their needs, wants, and preferences, and use this information to create a product that truly meets their needs. By taking the time to understand your target audience, you can develop a product that is more likely to succeed in the market.

 

Embracing Divergent Thinking for Creative Problem-Solving

When faced with a problem, many of us assume there’s only one perfect solution that we need to find. However, this mindset can be limiting and actually hinder our creativity in problem-solving. Instead, what’s needed is divergent thinking, which involves generating multiple ideas and exploring every angle of a problem. This approach was used by IDEO, a global design agency, to come up with innovations such as the first computer mouse.

 

Divergent thinking can be strengthened through exercises such as brainstorming in groups or the “Crazy Eights” exercise used by Google Ventures. In Crazy Eights, participants sketch eight different solutions to a given problem in just five minutes. Working in diverse teams is another effective way to encourage divergent thinking. This involves posing a problem to a group of people, having them generate as many solutions as possible on Post-it notes, and then discussing and grouping common ideas together to generate novel and wild ideas.

 

It’s important to note that our capacity for divergent thinking is like a muscle that can be strengthened over time. By investing time in exploring every possible solution and using unconventional methods to find inspiration, such as taking lengthy field trips, we can expand our creative capacity. This kind of approach may feel like a waste of time, but it’s actually what enables us to generate genuinely innovative ideas.

 

When developing an invention, it can be challenging to narrow down your ideas to a single solution that is both creative and practical. Once you have decided on your solution, it is essential to get it into the world quickly. The first step is to evaluate each of your ideas critically based on objective criteria to determine the one that is most feasible for a business. This process can be challenging as it involves letting go of your personal attachment to your ideas, but it is necessary to ensure that your final solution is both exciting and practical.

 

After selecting your solution, the next step is to develop it by giving it a catchy name and writing a concept statement. The concept statement should include:

– the name of the invention, 

– the problem it solves, 

– the solution it offers, and 

– the benefit it provides to its users. 

 

Condensing the statement to the length of a tweet can help you create an elevator pitch for your concept. If you have difficulty articulating your product’s specific features, you can create a simple prototype, such as a drawing or paper-and-glue model, to help you visualize and communicate your idea more effectively.

 

It can be tempting to delay developing your idea due to a lack of time or resources, but all you need to start is the willingness to begin somewhere. By taking action and creating a tangible prototype, you can test your idea and allow others to understand it. Remember that you can always refine and improve your prototype as you go along, but the critical thing is to get your idea out into the world as quickly as possible. Ultimately, the key to success is to find the balance between creativity and practicality, and to persevere through the challenges that arise along the way.

 

Moving from Concept to a Successful MVP

It is crucial to test your product with the right target users to determine its real potential. This can save you valuable time and money, as there is no point in creating something that your target audience does not want or need. However, how can you test a product that does not yet exist? The solution is to develop a minimum viable product (MVP). Unlike a prototype, an MVP must function and should represent the core features of your product.

 

Once you have created your MVP, it’s time to test it. There are several ways to do this, including professional user testing or sharing a simplified version of your product online to gather feedback. If you want to open a shop, you could begin by testing it out as a market stall or pop-up. The goal is to test your MVP in the real world and identify any issues as early as possible so that you can make necessary changes and test again.

 

After you have a workable MVP that people respond well to, it’s time to take the next step and get your target users to invest their money. By doing this, you can determine if there is a demand for your product. For example, you could offer a free online course to motivate people to write every day. When that generates a good response, you can create a paywall that allows people to extend the course for a small fee. If users are willing to pay for your product, then you know you are on to something.

 

Testing your product with the right target users is essential if you want to know its true potential. You need to identify your target audience, create an MVP, test it, and make necessary changes before asking your target users to invest their money. If you follow these steps, you will be well on your way to creating a successful product that meets the needs of your target audience.

 

Crafting a Compelling Pitch

Sharing your idea can be daunting, especially if you fear someone might steal it. However, keeping your idea to yourself can be destructive and prevent you from getting valuable feedback. To create a successful business, you need to master the art of the pitch, which involves sharing your vision as simply and concretely as possible and persuading your audience of the benefits of your concept. It’s essential to practice your pitch on anyone who will listen and pay attention to visual cues from your audience. To keep your audience engaged, keep adapting your pitch to make it as enticing and concise as possible.

 

Effective pitching is as much about how you communicate as what you communicate. Therefore, you need to project confidence with your body language by standing tall, planting your feet, and making direct eye contact with your audience. Once you’re ready to pitch to an audience, start with people who can give you valuable feedback, listen to their responses, and record them. Feedback is a gift that will help you refine your idea.

 

To process feedback, you need to cluster together each key idea that emerged and write down the main takeaways and specific actions resulting from them. This step will help you refine your idea further and prepare it for the next stage. Remember, feedback is not personal, so the more critical, the better. Mastering the art of the pitch is essential for communicating your idea effectively, persuading your audience of its benefits, and refining your idea based on feedback.

 

The Importance of Failure in business

 

The Importance of Failure

Entrepreneurship is a journey of ups and downs, but it’s the way you handle the downs that makes all the difference. To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to cultivate a growth mindset and be prepared to fail. Failing is not only important, it’s necessary because people who are comfortable with it bounce back more quickly. Failure is not taken personally, and risks are taken, and these are the hallmarks of a growth mindset. In fact, in their first week at Singularity University, students are given an assignment requiring them to go out into the world and fail as often as possible.

 

When you approach failures with a growth mindset, you’re able to pivot your endeavors in a new and more promising direction. Pivoting might mean focusing on a slightly different problem, allowing you to get more specific about your target market. For example, the author of an online writing accountability program realized her service was especially relevant to academic writers. She adapted her marketing materials to target them more explicitly, which helped her sales soar.

 

If your pivoting efforts don’t work, it’s okay to quit. In fact, it’s courageous to face reality head-on and know when to change course. Many successful businesspeople like Richard Branson have business histories littered with failed ventures, and they didn’t let those failures dampen their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs. After a period of rest and reflection, and armed with greater self-knowledge and business experience, you simply need to dust yourself off and begin again.

 

However, it’s essential to take the time to analyze your failures, understand why things didn’t work out and learn from your mistakes. If you approach failure with a fixed mindset, it’s easy to get discouraged and give up. But if you approach it with a growth mindset, it’s a valuable opportunity to learn, improve, and succeed. Remember, it’s not about avoiding failure; it’s about learning from it and using it to propel yourself towards success.

 

Growing Your Target Market

When it comes to pitching your startup idea to investors, one question that you may face is how big your market is. While having a great product is essential, attracting a big enough market is equally important for profitability. To grow your idea, you need to grow your core group of early users and find the right marketing techniques to attract a wider audience.

 

One way to do this is to understand the needs and preferences of your specific audience. For instance, the developers of the soccer app I Am Playr had to constantly tweak their product to appeal to users. After losing 20,000 users, they hit the jackpot by inventing a feature that rewarded players for sharing the app with five friends. This approach motivated their core users to recruit their friends and resulted in attracting 80,000 new users every day.

 

Similarly, study app Gojimo’s founder George Burgess initially tried to expand his market by getting as much coverage in traditional media as possible. However, he soon realized that his student audience didn’t actually read newspapers. Only when he tuned in to his community did he hit on the right marketing strategy: targeted Facebook ads at crunch times when students were frantically studying for exams. This approach helped his user numbers soar.

 

However, it’s important to remember that growth shouldn’t be an end in itself. The size of your target market depends on your values and ambitions for your business. You may prefer to focus on quality of engagement over quantity of users.

 

Growing your target market requires understanding your community and finding the right marketing techniques that appeal to them. By doing so, you can attract a wider audience, but it’s important to keep your values and ambitions in mind while striving for growth.

 

The Importance of Financial and Emotional Support for Building a Sustainable Business

When it comes to pursuing a side hustle or starting a business, it’s essential to have both financial and emotional resources to support your endeavors. First and foremost, you’ll need to ensure that you have enough runway – the financial cushion that allows your project to take off and reach the right market. You can seek funding from traditional sources such as venture capitalists or angel investors, or explore alternative options like PitchSee, Kickstarter, Gofundme, or startup accelerators, which also provide mentorship and training.

 

However, financial investment alone isn’t enough to guarantee success. Investing in your own well-being is equally crucial, as entrepreneurship can take a toll on your mental and emotional health. It’s essential to prioritize self-care and find ways to maintain your emotional and mental resources to keep building your business sustainably. Without a happy hustle, external success won’t matter.

 

Entrepreneur Vikas Shah’s experience illustrates the importance of balancing work and life. Although he founded several successful startups and had a high-profile speaking career, he struggled with loneliness, depression, and anxiety. He ultimately realized the need to prioritize happiness and refocus his life around things that made him happy, like spending time with friends and family.

 

To build a business that truly works for you, you need to cultivate a growth mindset and stay true to your desires. Enjoy what you do, take small steps, and appreciate the journey you’re on. Reflect on what kind of business you want to build and what makes you happy. And remember, the support of your community – whether it’s family, fellow founders, mentors, or early supporters – is invaluable. Celebrate successes and share failures, as hustling is most fulfilling when it’s a collective effort.

 

Finding Fulfillment through Small Business Ventures

In today’s rapidly changing work environment, side projects are becoming increasingly popular. The era of the side hustle is upon us, with 1 in 4 UK adults having a secondary business or job that brings in extra income. However, the definition of a side hustle is not solely about earning extra money. Research shows that three-quarters of people start a side hustle to follow a passion or explore a new challenge, making it a source of personal fulfillment and happiness.

 

What’s great about the era of the side hustle is that anyone can be a part of it, without needing permission or passing exams. You can learn as you go along and make use of evolving technology to develop your business idea and reach new customers. Starting small is key to bypassing the fear centers of the brain and reducing the risk of failure. It also allows you to build confidence and increase your chances of success.

 

For example, Kirsty Devlin started her first business washing cars with the help of her sisters, and later sold brightly colored wristbands on eBay. Since then, she has always had a side project on the go, and she says she’ll never stop creating side hustles as long as she’s alive. Devlin started small, asking herself what she could do with limited resources to make some money. Now, as a social entrepreneur, she helps people on low incomes learn to code and loves seeing the impact she’s having.

 

While having a side hustle requires time and effort, it can be done alongside your current commitments. By working on an idea that excites and motivates you and building it step by step, you can increase your chances of success and find great fulfillment in the process.

 

To build a successful side business that brings you joy, it’s important to be practical and proactive. Instead of waiting for inspiration to strike, keep an eye out for everyday problems that you can solve in unique ways. Then, move quickly to get your ideas out into the world and gather feedback from your target audience. It’s essential to be prepared for setbacks and use them as opportunities to learn and develop your ideas.

 

One of the most common obstacles to pursuing creative ideas is a lack of time. However, it’s always possible to find small pockets of time to work on your side hustle. You don’t need to set aside an entire day or go on a retreat to make progress. Instead, you can steal an hour here and there throughout the week. Try waking up an hour earlier in the morning or using your lunch break to brainstorm ideas instead of scrolling through social media. Even a trip to the store can be an opportunity to conduct user research. Every bit of time you can dedicate to your project counts and can make a significant impact over time.

Inspired by a book “How to Have a Happy Hustle”; Bec Evans

06.04.2023.
12 minutes read

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