This document provides guidance on best practices for brainstorming and developing minimum viable products (MVPs) for new entrepreneurs. It recommends focusing on the business model rather than technologies during brainstorming. Ideas should be tested and validated with real users through interviews and analytics to identify the unique value proposition. An MVP should then be created by mapping user stories and personas onto paper prototypes. The MVP allows assumptions to be tested with minimal resources to accelerate learning and reduce wasted engineering time. Metrics and iterative testing are crucial to refine the MVP and move the business forward.

1. Dall’idea alla startupbuone pratiche di brainstorming per neo imprenditori
Francesco Fullone
ff@ideato.it / @fullo

2. the Brainstorming
process
ideato
*

3. meet entrepreneurs
with a great
big idea
ideato
*

4. don’t use technology and don’t
talk about technologies
ideato
*

5. just focus on the business

6. Invalidate the idea
- with real users
- with analytics
- with interviews
ideato
*

7. Interviews

8. uncover the processes needed to
reach “the solution”,
or even better the
UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION
ideato
*

9. use, or produce, a business
model canvas (or a lean canvas)
as a starting point
ideato
*

10. reduce the idea
complexity
ideato
*

11. removing the “waste”
“drawing” its process
focusing on “Unique Value Prop.”
splitting it in smaller “User Stories”
identify the “personas”
reduce the idea
complexity
ideato
*

12. identify the
Personas to
represent
your
customer
segment

13. http://www.flickr.com/photos/osterwalder/
gain
creators
pain
relievers
gains
pains
customer
jobs
products &
services
Value Proposition Canvas
ideato
*

14. Interviews

15. use a model
storming
process
to represent
the process

16. use
scenarios
to uncover
edge cases

17. write user
stories with
all the
stakeholder
as __________
I want to _____
in order to ____

18. using paper
prototypes sketch an
approximative
interface, mapping
all the user stories
!MVP
ideato
*

19. simulate with paper
prototypes the
application streams
and map on them all
the “personas” you
identified
!MVP
ideato
*

20. (if possible) test the
paper prototype on
users
ideato
*

21. Interviews

22. Product
MVP development
ideato
*

23. MV…what?
“The minimum viable product is
that version of a new product
which allows a team to collect the
maximum amount of validated
learning about customers with the
least effort”
by Eric Ries

24. ideato
*
test the MVP assumptions

25. then... build MVPs
more than one if needed
ideato
*

26. It’s evolution, baby

27. Or like this

28. Reasons behind
Be able to test hypothesis with
minimal resources
Accelerate learning
Reduce wasted engineering time
Reach the customers ASAP

29. Test your hypothesis
• Interviews
• Landing Page
• Surveys
• Crowdfunding

30. Reduce wasted time
• Concierge
(Sir, how may I help thou?)
• Mage of OZ
(it’s you, but hidden behind
the curtains)
• Piecemeal
(someone else API ftw!)
engineering mostly.

31. A lot of MVPs
• Products
• Services
• Features

32. 0
17,5
35
52,5
70
0
25
50
75
100
Metrics are everything

33. Pirate Metrics
Acquisition
Activation
Retention
Referral
Revenue

34. Don’t be fooled by the
vanity metrics!

35. High-fidelity MVPs
You (may)
have to code
something

36. the planning process
(re-iterate as your wish)
ideato
*

37. use a kinda-SWOT analysis
on Unique Value Proposition
to prioritize user stories in
the MVP building process
ideato
*

38. UVP (s/o)
complexity
(w/t)
12
3 4
Tech
approach
ideato
*

39. UVP (s/o)
complexity
(w/t)
21
3 4
Biz
approach
ideato
*

40. to do doing done
kanban board
ideato
*

41. agile/lean
processes
ideato
*
test the MVP
assumptions
build MVPs
more than one if
needed
brainstorming
with PO

42. brainstorming tools
ideato
*

43. whiteboard, pencil,
paper & post-it
ideato
*

44. ??
!?

45. www.ideato.it
info@ideato.it
@ideato
Ideatohelping startups since 2008 to turn ideas in real business