Fraunhofer IZI-BB’s Post

💥 We'll say it loudly for the people in the back: think before you build! 💥 Friends of ASquared will know we’re big fans of the Lean Startup Method by #EricReis. The tried-and-tested approach puts value creation first, before the expense of product development. However, we speak to a lot of startup founders who are beyond the ‘gauge interest’ stage and are ready to create a product. Great! They have a solid idea with real interest, but are not sure what to do next. Whilst there’s a myriad of options, here’s our winning combination that is truly tried and tested: ➡ understand your target audience’s needs through user research, by speaking to representative users of your future product to identify their challenges and what drives their decisions ➡ explore a potential solution quickly by prototyping the product and testing it directly with users. This could be a clickable prototype where screens are stitched together and act like a real product, or better yet, a fully-working prototype that mimics complex functionality like personalisation and user data ...all before diving into development. A well-made prototype that’s backed by user research can provide invaluable learning, insights and improvements, and massively reduce future risk. 🙋♀️ Need help? Book some time with (legit design hero and our very own Design Director) Jonathan Aizlewood now 👉 https://lnkd.in/e-CCPvSj #ValueCreation #UXDesign #AppPrototyping

In today's Entrepreneurial Edge: Daily Dose on Growth and Innovation - Unlock the Secrets of Pretotyping vs. Prototyping! 🛠️ Ever wondered about the difference? We've got you covered! 🔍 Title: The Art Of Creating A New Market In this insightful piece, we explore the distinct roles of #pretotyping and #prototyping in the product development journey. Here's a sneak peek at what you'll discover: 🔹 Prototype: The first version of a product to answer the question "Can we build it?" 🔹 Pretotype: A rapid experiment testing an idea's appeal, answering "Should we build it?" 🔹 The Palm Pilot Story: A legendary example of pretotyping in action! 🔹 The Winning Combo: How pretotyping and prototyping work hand in hand for success. Ready to master the art of innovation? Dive into the full article now for practical takeaways that will supercharge your entrepreneurial journey! #EntrepreneurialEdge #Innovation #Pretotyping #Prototyping #StartupSuccess Learn More Here: https://lnkd.in/gmFYcKbD

🔍 Need to jumpstart your idea generation? Try these 7 hacks to spur innovation and unlock the full potential of your team's creativity. #IdeaGeneration #InnovationHacks https://hubs.la/Q02wKhHt0

As part of our Design Thinking series this month, we are focused on prototyping. Call it what you will - Minimum Viable Product, Beta Test, Version 1.0, or a s&%$ first draft. In my years of working with entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs - whether designing new products or designing the next chapter of our lives - humans have a bias toward perfection. We rail against releasing something imperfect, half-baked, or rough into the world. The purpose of a prototype is to reduce risk and learn. Prototyping is a successful strategy in dozens of industries. From prepping a TED talk to designing a wedding cake - small tests and experiments save time and money. I recently presented this slide to a group - my synthesis of why prototyping is essential. Go forth, fail fast, and iterate!

Innovation, proactivity, and creativity are essential for success in today's fast-changing world. Entrepreneurial thinking is recognized as an essential 21st-century skill and can be taught and learned. How can you increase your innovation? Read more in this month's Accelerated Solutions ⬇️

Working with startups at CrateBind, our conversation often leads to this question: "Do I need a PoC, prototype or MVP?" There’s much debate here, but the real answer comes down to a different question: What is your objective? Here’s a way to think about each approach: PoC - Prove the technical feasibility - Can I build this? Prototype - Demonstrate the idea and usability - What is it? Can customers use it? MVP - Validate the concept and find product-market fit - Is it working? What do I do next? Every business, product and market is different, and there may be times when the approaches overlap, but I think these categories can help us make the right choice about what to design or build first. What do you think?

TONIGHT! Venture Café Providence is kicking off our "Idea to Impact" series at our Thursday Gathering program. Our topic tonight is "Design Thinking" which is coming at the perfect time as we're right in the middle of #RIDesignWeek. Our Program: 🚀 4:30 - 7:30: Innovation on Tap - Complimentary drinks from our bar sponsor, The Guild Brewing Company, and good conversations. 🚀 4:30-5:30 - Conversation Corner - Introducing the Idea to Impact Series The Series will provide workshops, office hours and innovation ecosystem networking opportunities to early-stage companies and founders that are building businesses in Rhode Island. 🚀 5:30 - 6:30 - Idea to Impact Module One - Getting Started with Design Thinking The first module of this ten part series will be focused on Design Thinking, led by Roberta Dombrowski of Learn Mindfully. Learn the basics around design thinking, including why it’s important, and how to get started. 🚀 6:30 - 7:15 PM - Workshop: It's not Marketing, It's Alignment In this session, Jeff Berman will talk about how to identify and attract your ideal customers, and the first steps toward turning them from passersby into enthusiasts and advocates for your creation. Pre-register ahead of time for a speedy check-in process https://lnkd.in/d62cdAd8

STEER. How vision leads to steering. A start up is a catalyst that transforms ideas into products. For start ups,this information about customer feedback on a product is much important than dollars, awards or mentions in the press, because it can influence and reshape the next set of ideas. It starts with an idea,then you build the idea into product. Then in measure phase we determine whether the product development efforts are leading to real progress. Then this data helps us to create learning milestones and product milestones. #steer #build #ceomindset #hoodefitsfoundation

Design Thinking is such a valuable approach to take, whether you are a early stage startup or established business. It forces you to broaden your scope and frame of reference, requiring a deep understanding of the stakeholders ecosystem and problems they face. For me the validation process is the most fascinating, forcing you to face reality and a great way to address any biases. A great initiative being offered by LaunchLab. #leadership #strategy #finance