START UP MENTORING

Ideation

Problem Statement: I work with founders to clearly identify the problem they're trying to solve. We assess the size and impact of the problem, as these factors will shape the course of the venture and the founder's journey.
Monetisation: This is a crucial first step that can be refined later during pivots. I help founders distinguish between a hobby or interest and a genuine market opportunity. The problem must be significant enough for someone to pay for a solution, and the market must be large enough to make the venture worthwhile.
Design Thinking: I guide founders and startups through a design thinking process, using visual tools, wireframes, and brainstorming techniques to frame a range of ideas. We use tools like the Business Model Canvas to frame different variations of ideas, pick a potential journey, and align the message to the market and measure of success.
Market Research and Customer Interviews: I encourage businesses to engage with customers to gauge their intent and value. Most ideas evolve significantly after the first contact with a customer or potential customer.

Product: I assist in building products that are technically feasible and commercially viable. The problem and market must both be substantial enough.
Lean Approach: I advocate for leveraging lean models. Creativity often thrives when resources are limited.
Intellectual Property (IP): I help startups understand the value of IP and what it means for their business. There is significant value in intangibles, and recent company growth trends highlight this.
Team: I guide founders in building a successful team with complementary skills.
Vision: I help design a product or solution vision - a roadmap. Some parts of this will be disclosed to customers as 'what comes next', while other parts may be kept confidential or shared with investors.
Project Management/Sprints and Delivery: I assist in managing projects effectively, using sprints and delivery methods to ensure progress.

Reinventing: I guide startups in continually refining their offering and understanding that the company reinvents itself in the process.
Testing: I assist in A/B testing to validate different versions of a product or service.
Modeling: I help in building financial and technical models so the product can be pivoted to ensure a large Total Addressable Market (TAM).
Pitch Deck: I assist in building and reviewing a pitch deck to attract potential investors.

Network Effect: I guide startups in creating platforms with the potential to seed the market and create a network effect.
Market Analysis: I assist in market penetration analysis of a product or service and enhancing traction.
Demographic Analysis: I help with bank transaction data analysis and bureau of statistics data analysis.
Customer Loyalty Mapping: I assist in identifying loyal customers and finding more of them to enhance customer retention and growth.