LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS BY APPLYING LEAN, 
EFFECTUATION AND STARTUP SCIENCE
INTRODUCTION 
FRIDAY 18:00 TO 18:30
WHO WE ARE?
WHAT IS LAUNCHWEEKEND? 
A workshop to help you start a 
successful company 
Very 
Unlikely 
Very 
Likely 
Even 
chance
HOW? 
Help you find a plan that will work 
Average plan Awesome plan
NETWORKING GAME: HALF BAKED.COM 
1. Entrepreneurs count off into team of 5 
2. Audience selects 30 random words to use for a name 
3. Each team selects 2 words to use for a name (example. Blank-blank. 
com) 
4. Each team has 5 minutes to create a business plan 
5. The business plan should consist of: 
• A tagline 
• A product or service (your solution) 
• A business model (How do you make money) 
• A go-to-market strategy (How do you get customers) 
6. Each team has 2 mins to pitch their plan
HOW? 
Help you find a plan that will work 
Average plan Awesome plan
WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY PLAN?
WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY PLAN?
WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY PLAN?
WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY PLAN?
WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY PLAN? 
33% 66% 
Source: Bhide (2000) 
No! 
Yes!
97% 
entrepreneurs that attend our training significantly 
changed their business model, for the better.
WHAT IS A GREAT PLAN? 
The only thing that matters is product/market fit 
- Marc Andreessen
You can always feel product-market fit 
when it’s happening. 
- Marc Andreessen 
• The customers are buying the product just as fast as you can make it – 
• or usage is growing just as fast as you can add more servers. 
• Money from customers is piling up in your company checking account.
You can always feel when product-market 
isn’t happening. 
- Marc Andreessen 
• The customers aren't quite getting value out of the product, 
• word of mouth isn't spreading, 
• usage isn't growing that fast, 
• press reviews are kind of "blah", 
• the sales cycle takes too long, 
• and lots of deals never close..
HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOUR PLAN WILL WORK? 
vs.
THE OBJECTIVE FOR THE WORKSHOP 
1. Customers with problem! 
2. Attract customers to buy! 
3. Customers keep buying! 
4. Cost effective marketing 
?
KAUFMANN PROVE IT VIDEO
Lean Startup is about discovery!!! 
Be a little crazy. Try different ideas. Experiment. 
Optimisation Discovery
OBJECTIVE 
1 No. customers interviewed/surveyed/pitched 
2 No. of experiments 
3 Amount of learning
THE LAUNCH CANVAS 
FIND A CUSTOMER 
PROBLEM 
PLAN 
INTERVIEWS 
CUSTOMERS 
WILL BUY 
CUSTOMERS 
WILL KEEP BUYING 
PLAN 
PITCHES
HOW TO GET A PRODUCT-MARKET FIT? (AKA THE WEEKEND PLAN) 
1. Customers with big problem! 
2. Customers will buy! 
3. Customers will keep buying! 
4. Cost effective marketing 
?
CUSTOMER-PROBLEM FIT 
You have found a customer segment that 
has a problem they will pay to have solved
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES 
BIG PROBLEM SIMPLE SOLUTION
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES 
CD PLAYER 
JUMPS & 
MISSION TO 
CARRY CDS! 
BIG PROBLEM SIMPLE SOLUTION
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES 
OVERSEAS 
CALLS ARE 
EXPENSIVE! 
BIG PROBLEM SIMPLE SOLUTION
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES 
IT IS A 
HEADACHE 
GETTING A 
TAXI! 
BIG PROBLEM SIMPLE SOLUTION
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES 
PIZZA TOOK 
FOREVER TO 
ARRIVE! 
BIG PROBLEM SIMPLE SOLUTION
ARE CUSTOMER INTERVIEWS USEFUL???
WARNING!!! 
EXAMPLE: PUMODO. NOT FIND A BIG PROBLEM!!!
HOW DO YOU FIND CUSTOMERS PROBLEMS? 
BIG PROBLEM PROBLEM INTERVIEWS 
PROBLEM SURVEYS
STEP 1: 
PLAN 
YOUR 
EXPERIMENT
CUSTOMER ASSUMPTION 
• Be as specific as possible 
• Target customers easy to reach 
Describe 
customer 
segment
PROBLEM ASSUMPTION 
Describe 
customer 
problem
EXPERIMENT 
Describe 
experiment
EXCITEMENT METRIC & BEHAVIOUR 
Metric 
i.e. 7 / 10 
Behavior 
i.e. Built a solution
STEP 2: 
RUN 
YOUR 
EXPERIMENT
STEP 3: 
RECORD 
RESULTS 
& INSIGHTS
RESULT & DECISION 
Metric 
i.e. 7 / 10 
Decision 
i.e. Pivot, proceed 
or iterate
INSIGHT & LEARNINGS 
Write up any 
new insights
Campus 
parkers 
Can’t find 
parking 
Interview 
customers 
100 /200 
Have 
problem 
150 /200 
PIVOT 
Event 
parking is a 
bigger pain 
Event 
Parkers 
Can’t find 
parking 
Interview 
customers 
7 /10 
Searched 
for 
10 / 10 
PROCEED 
Home 
Owners 
Extra 
space for 
parking 
Interviews 
20 / 30 
Will 
Partner 
20 / 30 
PIVOT 
Homes 
hard to 
scale
Mass 
Market 
Problem 
buying 
consumables 
Interview 
customers 
15/20 
Searched 
0/20 
Searched 
PIVOT 
Problem 
with 
delivery 
Mass 
Market 
Missed 
deliveries 
Interviews 
7/10 
Have 
problem 
3/10 
Have 
problem 
ITERATE 
Online 
shoppers 
that are 
corporate 
employees 
Courier 
Company 
Missed 
deliveries 
Interviews 
3/5 Have 
problem 
4/5 
Have 
searched 
PROCEED 
Large cost 
to courier 
companies
PLAN PROBLEM EXPERIMENT (10 MINS) 
What if I already have a 
product or solution?
HOW TO CONDUCT A PROBLEM INTERVIEW 
INTRODUCE 
INDICATORS 
INTERVIEW 
INTRODUCTIONS 
Reminder: 4Is
HOW TO CONDUCT A PROBLEM INTERVIEW 
INTRODUCE yourself 
i.e. My name is [name] I am doing market research for a startup and want 
to solve your problems and make your life better. 
Check customer INDICATORS 
i.e. Ask questions to test if they are in your target market. 
Conduct INTERVIEW 
i.e. Ask Problem, Competition and Spend questions 
Ask for INTRODUCTIONS 
i.e. Ask for introductions to friends and colleagues. 
Reminder: 4Is
WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK? (PCS) 
PROBLEM 
COMPETITION 
SWITCH/SPEND 
SOLUTION
WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK? (PCS) 
PROBLEM 
What problems did you encounter when 
(describe goal or task they are trying to achieve)? 
COMPETITION 
How do you currently solve the problem? Likes? Dislikes? 
SPEND 
Have you spent any money or time trying to solve (describe problem)?
PROBLEM INTERVIEW DEMONSTRATION 
PROBLEM: 
What problems did you encounter when 
(describe the goal or task they are trying to achieve)? 
COMPETITION: 
How do you currently solve the problem? 
Likes? Dislikes? 
SPEND: 
Have you spent any money or time trying to solve 
(repeat back the problem discovered with the first question)?
PROBLEM INTERVIEW PRACTICE 
PROBLEM: 
What problems did you encounter when 
(describe the goal or task they are trying to achieve)? 
COMPETITION: 
How do you currently solve the problem? 
Likes? Dislikes? 
SPEND: 
Have you spent any money or time trying to solve 
(repeat back the problem discovered with the first question)?
CREATE INTERVIEW SCRIPT: 
Introduction 
script 
Problem 
question 
Competition 
question 
Spend 
question
CREATE CUSTOMER INTERVIEW PLAN: 
Put together a plan to speak to at least 20 customers tomorrow 
morning: 
1. Friends and family (Facebook, Linkedin, Email, Cell phone) 
2. Shopping malls 
3. Bored people (Waiting in lines, Gautrain, Bus stops, Taxi ranks) 
4. Cold calling (LinkedIn, Facebook, Google) 
5. Lead Generation (Landing Page, OLX, GumTree, Google Ads, 
Facebook Ads) 
6. Public spaces (Events, Parks, conferences)
SESSION TO DO LIST 
• Write problem interview script 
• Practice a problem interview 
• Create a plan to talk to customers tomorrow morning

Friday night slides - Customer-Problem fit - LaunchWeekend

  • 1.
    LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESSBY APPLYING LEAN, EFFECTUATION AND STARTUP SCIENCE
  • 2.
  • 3.
  • 4.
    WHAT IS LAUNCHWEEKEND? A workshop to help you start a successful company Very Unlikely Very Likely Even chance
  • 5.
    HOW? Help youfind a plan that will work Average plan Awesome plan
  • 6.
    NETWORKING GAME: HALFBAKED.COM 1. Entrepreneurs count off into team of 5 2. Audience selects 30 random words to use for a name 3. Each team selects 2 words to use for a name (example. Blank-blank. com) 4. Each team has 5 minutes to create a business plan 5. The business plan should consist of: • A tagline • A product or service (your solution) • A business model (How do you make money) • A go-to-market strategy (How do you get customers) 6. Each team has 2 mins to pitch their plan
  • 7.
    HOW? Help youfind a plan that will work Average plan Awesome plan
  • 8.
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12.
    WHAT’S WRONG WITHMY PLAN? 33% 66% Source: Bhide (2000) No! Yes!
  • 13.
    97% entrepreneurs thatattend our training significantly changed their business model, for the better.
  • 14.
    WHAT IS AGREAT PLAN? The only thing that matters is product/market fit - Marc Andreessen
  • 15.
    You can alwaysfeel product-market fit when it’s happening. - Marc Andreessen • The customers are buying the product just as fast as you can make it – • or usage is growing just as fast as you can add more servers. • Money from customers is piling up in your company checking account.
  • 19.
    You can alwaysfeel when product-market isn’t happening. - Marc Andreessen • The customers aren't quite getting value out of the product, • word of mouth isn't spreading, • usage isn't growing that fast, • press reviews are kind of "blah", • the sales cycle takes too long, • and lots of deals never close..
  • 22.
    HOW DO YOUENSURE YOUR PLAN WILL WORK? vs.
  • 23.
    THE OBJECTIVE FORTHE WORKSHOP 1. Customers with problem! 2. Attract customers to buy! 3. Customers keep buying! 4. Cost effective marketing ?
  • 24.
  • 25.
    Lean Startup isabout discovery!!! Be a little crazy. Try different ideas. Experiment. Optimisation Discovery
  • 26.
    OBJECTIVE 1 No.customers interviewed/surveyed/pitched 2 No. of experiments 3 Amount of learning
  • 27.
    THE LAUNCH CANVAS FIND A CUSTOMER PROBLEM PLAN INTERVIEWS CUSTOMERS WILL BUY CUSTOMERS WILL KEEP BUYING PLAN PITCHES
  • 28.
    HOW TO GETA PRODUCT-MARKET FIT? (AKA THE WEEKEND PLAN) 1. Customers with big problem! 2. Customers will buy! 3. Customers will keep buying! 4. Cost effective marketing ?
  • 29.
    CUSTOMER-PROBLEM FIT Youhave found a customer segment that has a problem they will pay to have solved
  • 30.
    SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES BIGPROBLEM SIMPLE SOLUTION
  • 31.
    SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES CDPLAYER JUMPS & MISSION TO CARRY CDS! BIG PROBLEM SIMPLE SOLUTION
  • 32.
    SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES OVERSEAS CALLS ARE EXPENSIVE! BIG PROBLEM SIMPLE SOLUTION
  • 33.
    SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES ITIS A HEADACHE GETTING A TAXI! BIG PROBLEM SIMPLE SOLUTION
  • 34.
    SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES PIZZATOOK FOREVER TO ARRIVE! BIG PROBLEM SIMPLE SOLUTION
  • 35.
  • 36.
    WARNING!!! EXAMPLE: PUMODO.NOT FIND A BIG PROBLEM!!!
  • 37.
    HOW DO YOUFIND CUSTOMERS PROBLEMS? BIG PROBLEM PROBLEM INTERVIEWS PROBLEM SURVEYS
  • 38.
    STEP 1: PLAN YOUR EXPERIMENT
  • 39.
    CUSTOMER ASSUMPTION •Be as specific as possible • Target customers easy to reach Describe customer segment
  • 40.
    PROBLEM ASSUMPTION Describe customer problem
  • 41.
  • 42.
    EXCITEMENT METRIC &BEHAVIOUR Metric i.e. 7 / 10 Behavior i.e. Built a solution
  • 43.
    STEP 2: RUN YOUR EXPERIMENT
  • 44.
    STEP 3: RECORD RESULTS & INSIGHTS
  • 45.
    RESULT & DECISION Metric i.e. 7 / 10 Decision i.e. Pivot, proceed or iterate
  • 46.
    INSIGHT & LEARNINGS Write up any new insights
  • 48.
    Campus parkers Can’tfind parking Interview customers 100 /200 Have problem 150 /200 PIVOT Event parking is a bigger pain Event Parkers Can’t find parking Interview customers 7 /10 Searched for 10 / 10 PROCEED Home Owners Extra space for parking Interviews 20 / 30 Will Partner 20 / 30 PIVOT Homes hard to scale
  • 49.
    Mass Market Problem buying consumables Interview customers 15/20 Searched 0/20 Searched PIVOT Problem with delivery Mass Market Missed deliveries Interviews 7/10 Have problem 3/10 Have problem ITERATE Online shoppers that are corporate employees Courier Company Missed deliveries Interviews 3/5 Have problem 4/5 Have searched PROCEED Large cost to courier companies
  • 50.
    PLAN PROBLEM EXPERIMENT(10 MINS) What if I already have a product or solution?
  • 51.
    HOW TO CONDUCTA PROBLEM INTERVIEW INTRODUCE INDICATORS INTERVIEW INTRODUCTIONS Reminder: 4Is
  • 52.
    HOW TO CONDUCTA PROBLEM INTERVIEW INTRODUCE yourself i.e. My name is [name] I am doing market research for a startup and want to solve your problems and make your life better. Check customer INDICATORS i.e. Ask questions to test if they are in your target market. Conduct INTERVIEW i.e. Ask Problem, Competition and Spend questions Ask for INTRODUCTIONS i.e. Ask for introductions to friends and colleagues. Reminder: 4Is
  • 53.
    WHAT QUESTIONS TOASK? (PCS) PROBLEM COMPETITION SWITCH/SPEND SOLUTION
  • 54.
    WHAT QUESTIONS TOASK? (PCS) PROBLEM What problems did you encounter when (describe goal or task they are trying to achieve)? COMPETITION How do you currently solve the problem? Likes? Dislikes? SPEND Have you spent any money or time trying to solve (describe problem)?
  • 55.
    PROBLEM INTERVIEW DEMONSTRATION PROBLEM: What problems did you encounter when (describe the goal or task they are trying to achieve)? COMPETITION: How do you currently solve the problem? Likes? Dislikes? SPEND: Have you spent any money or time trying to solve (repeat back the problem discovered with the first question)?
  • 56.
    PROBLEM INTERVIEW PRACTICE PROBLEM: What problems did you encounter when (describe the goal or task they are trying to achieve)? COMPETITION: How do you currently solve the problem? Likes? Dislikes? SPEND: Have you spent any money or time trying to solve (repeat back the problem discovered with the first question)?
  • 57.
    CREATE INTERVIEW SCRIPT: Introduction script Problem question Competition question Spend question
  • 58.
    CREATE CUSTOMER INTERVIEWPLAN: Put together a plan to speak to at least 20 customers tomorrow morning: 1. Friends and family (Facebook, Linkedin, Email, Cell phone) 2. Shopping malls 3. Bored people (Waiting in lines, Gautrain, Bus stops, Taxi ranks) 4. Cold calling (LinkedIn, Facebook, Google) 5. Lead Generation (Landing Page, OLX, GumTree, Google Ads, Facebook Ads) 6. Public spaces (Events, Parks, conferences)
  • 59.
    SESSION TO DOLIST • Write problem interview script • Practice a problem interview • Create a plan to talk to customers tomorrow morning