Stand-Up
The initial stage where entrepreneurs validate their ideas and establish problem-solution fit. Focus is on exploration, validation, and building the foundation for a sustainable business. Entrepreneurs typically work alone or with minimal team, testing hypotheses and iterating rapidly based on market feedback. This stage is characterized by high uncertainty, limited resources, and the need for rapid learning and adaptation.
One-Man-Band
Like a solo performer, the person handles all aspects of the business, learning to play multiple instruments while finding their unique sound and audience. Every decision, every performance, every interaction with the audience (customers) depends entirely on their individual skill and vision. They must be versatile, adaptable, and capable of wearing many hats while maintaining the core creative vision.
KEY FOCUS
Exploration & Validation
The primary focus is on understanding the problem space and validating potential solutions. Key questions include: What problem am I solving and for whom? Is this a problem worth solving? How is this problem solved today? Activities center around customer interviews, market research, rapid prototyping, and continuous learning from market feedback.
KEY QUESTION
Why?
Why do I want to start on my own? Why do I care about this problem? Why am I the right person to solve this problem? Starting with Why helps entrepreneurs build conviction and communicate purpose. These questions establish the foundation for everything that follows - they drive motivation during difficult times and help communicate vision to potential customers, partners, and future investors..
MINDSET
Opporturnistic
Believing that you could find a better solution no matter how you are being mocked and questioned. This mindset requires comfort with uncertainty, resilience in the face of rejection, and unwavering belief in the possibility of improvement. It's about seeing problems as opportunities and maintaining optimism despite limited evidence of success.
LEADERSHIP
Visionary
A passionate individual who can see opportunities others miss, willing to take risks and challenge conventional thinking. They inspire through vision and personal conviction, often working with limited resources but unlimited enthusiasm. Their strength lies in pattern recognition and the ability to imagine different futures. They excel at communicating possibility and building conviction in uncertain environments.
FUNDING
Own Pockets
Bootstrap funding through personal savings, family contributions, and early revenue. This stage typically requires minimal capital but maximum resourcefulness. Entrepreneurs often maintain other income sources while building their business, focusing on proving concepts before seeking external investment. Typical sources include personal savings, family loans, and initial customer payments.
METHODOLOGY
Design Thinking
USE OF AI AND DIGITAL TOOLS
Your Research Partner
At this early stage, your primary goal is to validate your vision. AI can act as your personal research team, dramatically reducing the risk of building the wrong thing. You could use AI to instantly analyze market reports, summarize competitor strategies, or generate detailed customer personas. To test your value proposition directly, you could use simple no-code website builders to launch a landing page in hours, gathering real-world data and email sign-ups before writing a single line of code.