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Startup Curriculum Welcome to the FAST Program!
We’re excited to start this journey with you. You’ll learn useful skills and ideas to help your startup grow through fun workshops and teamwork.
Edit 0. Program Launch In this session, we’ll set the stage for your startup journey, giving you a clear understanding of how the program works, what’s expected of you, and what you need to do to get started. This will ensure you’re fully prepared for the upcoming activities and workshops.
Edit 0.1 Key Notes SPRINT Consortium Overview Program Structure, Workshops, and Coaching Startup Founders Networking Grant Components and disbursement process Monthly reporting metrics and grant requirements by Adia Setting up bank details and team access on Lesgo platform Edit 0.2 Resources Lesgo Platform Guide Reporting Metrics Overview Grant Components Checklist Reporting Process Edit 0.3 Tasks Submit bank details and add team members to the Lesgo platform. Review the reporting requirements and prepare for monthly metrics submissions. Edit 1. Ideation Ideation is the cornerstone of every startup. It empowers you as a founder to identify genuine problems worth solving and validate your ideas before progressing, ensuring a strong foundation for your business.
Edit 1.1 Key Concepts Key presentations for understanding and applying the concepts:
Finding Ideas Idea Valuation Design Thinking Edit 1.2 Stories Case studies and stories to give you rich context and deeper insights:
The Birth of Design Thinking Edit 1.3 Resources You and your team will evaluate the resources, why they're important, and when to use them:
Interview Guide Idea Validation Framework - Article and Online Tool Edit 1.4 Success Metrics Number of validated customer problems/ideas Insights gathered from customer interviews Early stage prototypes or sketches Edit 1.5 Tasks “These are assignments we want you to complete and submit.”
To qualify for the first grant disbursement, complete these tasks:
Develop a basic prototype. Conduct at least 30 customer interviews to confirm your idea. Edit 2. Customer Understanding your target customers is essential for developing products that meet their specific needs. This section helps you define your customer base and create a deep understanding of their preferences and behaviors.
Edit 2.1 Key Concepts Customer Discovery Empathy Mapping Customer Persona Edit 2.2 Case Study Edit 2.3 Resources Empathy Map Canvas - PDF Empathy Map Canvas - Miro: Online Tool Customer development by Steve Blank - PPT Persona Canvas - How to make better decisions Edit 2.4 Success Metrics Completed detailed customer personas Insights gathered from empathy maps Edit 2.5 Tasks Create detailed customer personas using the Persona Canvas. Conduct empathy mapping exercises to better understand customer needs. Edit 3. Market Understanding the broader market landscape is crucial for positioning your product effectively. This section focuses on analyzing market trends, potential, and competition.
Edit 3.1 Key Concepts Value Proposition Market Research Approaches Market Potential Analysis (TAM, SAM, SOM) Competitive Landscape Evaluation Edit 3.2 Case Study Edit 3.3 Resources Strategic Analysis Tools - PDF Market Research Tools and Databases Edit 3.4 Success Metrics Market research report with key insights TAM, SAM, SOM analysis with quantified market size Completed SWOT analysis for understanding competition Edit 3.5 Tasks Conduct market research and present findings. Define the total addressable market (TAM), serviceable available market (SAM), and serviceable obtainable market (SOM) for your startup. Perform a SWOT analysis of competitors in your target market. Edit 4. Prototyping Prototyping brings your ideas to life, enabling you to test assumptions before fully developing a product. This process helps you save time and resources while ensuring that your solution meets real customer needs.
Edit 4.1 Key Concepts User Testing Building MVP Rapid Design Pivot & Discover Edit 4.2 Case Study Edit 4.3 Resources Figma Adobe XD Lean Canvas User Testing Platforms Rapid Prototyping Tools Edit 4.4 Success Metrics MVP ready for user testing Number of user feedback cycles Product iterations made based on testing data Edit 4.5 Tasks Create an MVP based on user feedback. Conduct user testing sessions and gather feedback. Edit 5. Founders The founding team is vital to your startup's success. As founders, it's essential to align on your vision, leverage each other's skills, and clearly define roles to work cohesively and propel the startup forward.
Edit 5.1 Key Concepts Importance of a complementary team Role clarity and responsibility distribution Founder resilience and navigating uncertainty Leadership and team dynamics Edit 5.2 Case Study Edit 5.3 Resources Team Canvas Founder Alignment Framework Role Definition Tools Leadership Assessment Tools Edit 5.4 Success Metrics Defined roles and responsibilities among founders Founder alignment on mission and vision Team resilience plan for handling conflicts or challenges Edit 5.5 Tasks Create a team canvas to define roles and responsibilities. Develop a resilience plan for team challenges. Edit 6. Financial management Financial management is crucial for driving growth and scaling operations. It involves planning, organizing, directing, and controlling financial activities to ensure your startup is sustainable and profitable. As founders, it’s important to understand various funding options and investment strategies available, ensuring you secure the appropriate type of funding at the right stage of your startup journey.
Edit 6.1 Key Concepts Types of funding (bootstrapping, venture capital, angel investors) Preparing a financial model and projections Crafting a compelling pitch for investors Building relationships with investors Edit 6.2 Case Study Edit 6.3 Resources Financial Modeling Tools Pitch Deck Templates Investment Readiness Checklist Investor Databases Edit 6.4 Success Metrics Completed financial projections Investment-ready pitch deck Number of investor meetings or conversations initiated Edit 6.5 Tasks Develop a financial model for your startup. Create a pitch deck tailored to your target investors. Edit 7. Execution Execution transforms ideas into tangible results. For founders, this means effectively scaling your business, acquiring customers, and managing growth to ensure long-term success.
Edit 7.1 Key Concepts Designing and refining a business model Creating a go-to-market strategy Managing sales funnels and customer acquisition Scaling operations while maintaining quality Edit 7.2 Case Study Edit 7.3 Resources Business Model Canvas Go-To-Market Plan Templates CRM Tools Sales Funnel Management Tools Edit 7.4 Success Metrics Clear and actionable go-to-market plan Defined customer acquisition strategy Initial sales and customer traction Edit 7.5 Tasks Create a detailed go-to-market plan. Develop a customer acquisition strategy based on local market insights.