Slides from Ideation workshop given to Melbourne Accelerator Programme held at the University of Melbourne on 11 April 2013. See www.getviable.com for more.

1. @getviable
Ideation
for Startups
getviable.com

2. @getviable
Dougal Edwards
Cofounder & Head of product, GetViable
Digital product & user engagement expert
Deep digital product pedigree across
B2C & B2B / Media, Finance & Startup
Global experience leading digital product
strategies – idea to launch
GetViable is an online accelerator that helps you
discover, validate and build your startup ideas

3. @getviable
GOT
IDEAS?

4. @getviable
An idea is nothing
more nor less than
a new combination
of old elements
- James Webb Young

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What is ideation
anyway?
“It depends…”

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Traditional PMs & Tech
“Just make sure ideas stop before
project and development even start”

7. @getviable
The Design Thinkers
“RADICAL”
design alternatives
@dougaled / @getviable

8. @getviable
The Design Thinkers
“RADICAL”
design alternatives
@dougaled / @getviable

9. @getviable
Everyone else…
Idewhat??
@dougaled / @getviable

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Ideation Techniques
Brainstorming (alone/together)
Brainwriting
ForceFit (intense peace)
Poetry
Borrowing
Logical level Up
Bizarro world

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Let’s
Brainstorm!!
(JOKE)

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People can be overly concerned about
how their ideas will be perceived.
Most ideas never leave the thinker s
mind because of this internal editing.
You must loosen up the team to get
over this hesitation.
What was that feeling…?

13. @getviable
A quick exercise in
brainwriting
Seriously now…

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2 minutes
Write your name
&
A problem you want to solve
Pass it on

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How might we…
Use parts of this problem for good?
Separate the problem from the experience?
Make it the opposite of the problem?
Challenge the assumption of the problem?
Change the status quo that

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The BIG idea – 3 minutes
Take a moment to get a little bit of background
“WHY?”
Think of a BIG idea that may (or may not) be an
answer to this problem.
DOESN’T MATTER (or does it?)
Pass it on

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Develop the idea – 3 minutes
Read the problem and the BIG idea.
Look for a connection.
Ask yourself “WHY?”
Develop idea in a way you think might work.
Pass it on

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Pass it on
Conclude the idea – 3 minutes
Read the problem and the ideas.
Look for a connection.
Ask yourself “WHY?”
Develop idea in a way you think might work.

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Ideation in
startups…

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the process of bringing
ideas to life

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Questions, questions…
Do you know you are solving a problem?
Do you know whose problem you re solving?
Do you know what problem you’re solving?
How do you know?
Have you talked to people?
…Has your idea changed as a result?

22. @getviable
We always look at an issue or
problem through our own lens.
Our expertise, experiences
and bias leads us to our own
unique solution.
- Someone

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If I had an hour to solve a
problem I‘d spend 55 minutes
thinking about the problem
and 5 minutes thinking about
solutions.
(but today… we have the luxury of failing)
- Albert Einstein

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The journey of a startup idea
Minimum
Viable
Product
Traction
Woooohoooooo!
Confusion, Chaos
[Time & Money]
Validation
YAY!

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Lean Startup
@getviable
IDEAS
CODE
DATA
LEARN
BUILDMEASURE
Rapid iteration requires constant ideation

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Customer Development
@getviable

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Business Model Canvas
@getviable

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“It s only when you open
yourself up to the absurd
that you find true creativity”
- Someone Else

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I d like my
crayons back,
please.
@getviable

30. @getviable
Where is ideation for startups?
ideation
MVP TractionChaos Validation
Part of your brain should ALWAYS be creating

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In closing
Some practical idea stuff…

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Idea Articulation
I am developing
(a defined offering)
to help (a target audience)
to (solve a problem)
with (secret sauce) .

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7 Rules of an Idea
1. Simple ideas win
2. Simple original ideas win more
3. Single revenue stream
4. Name your customer
5. Easy to explain
6. BIG market
7. Legitimate secret sauce

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The idea itself
1. Must be specific
2. Avoid buzzwords
3. Avoid adjectives

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Testing your startup idea
1. Share your idea – feedback rocks
2. Ideas don’t matter – execution does
3. Nobody is going to steal your idea
4. NDAs are obsolete and irrelevant

36. Questions?
Dougal Edwards
Linkedin.com/in/dougaledwards
@dougaled
GetViable.com
@getviable