I've redone this post to pull out the workshop methodology from how I hope to use that methodology in figuring out what to do in my next startup. To summarize the workshop process, we use five steps to align business users and software developers:
- Define the idea
- Determine the business case for doing it
- Create alignment around it
- Define an implementation plan to execute it
- Get executive buy-in to fund it
So what does this have to do with a startup? Well, I'm using this same process to help define my next move. For example, I'm interested in inbound marketing so I set up a meeting with a friend of mine who runs HubSpot to get his input on the market. HubSpot sells products to customers to make it easier for them to do the inbound marketing themselves. I'm interested in the service business around their product. Once I talked to the CEO, I talked with some of HubSpot's customers (I begin to investigate the ecosystem) to see if there was a market for services. I also interviewed potential customers to create the value proposition and to gauge interest. With some of the high level planning complete, it's time to think about the business case; how much will I need to invest to get going on this? I'm pretty early in the process with the business case, but if it looks positive then my next step will be to identify a team of key individuals to join the startup. Right now, I'm trying to convince one friend in particular to join me, so I'm building visualizations and proof-of-concepts to show him what the service offering might look like. I've already 'run a workshop' with a few friends to get their input and I'm refining my analysis based on their ideas and concerns. My executive buy-in presentation will be fun as I'll have to convince my wife to allow me the time and money to go after the idea. I can see the tears in her eyes now as I role-play my way to the money...
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