Downloaded 20 times
Uploaded byAndrew Priestley
Untested business assumptions
The document discusses the importance of stress testing business assumptions, highlighting that many startups fail due to untested ideas and a lack of formal business plans. It introduces a 90-minute strategic audit and an 80-day program designed to clarify business concepts, test assumptions, and develop actionable plans. These methodologies are aimed at both startups and underperforming established businesses to improve their chances of success.
More Related Content
Similar to Untested business assumptions
Untested business assumptions
- 1. YOUR BUSINESS IS BASED ON UNTESTED ASSUMPTIONS WE HELP YOU STRESS TEST THEM DAVID ROBSON & ANDREW PRIESTLEY
- 2. A GREAT IDEA •Most business owners start with an idea for a business which they assume will work. • FACT: 80% of startups fail within the first 12 months
- 3. YOU NEED APLAN • Just about everyone recommends a business plan. • FACT: 93% of businesses do not have a written business plan. * RBS 2011
- 4. A GOOD INVESTMENT •Abusiness plan is typically written to obtain bank finance. • FACT: Banks assess your 'business plan' as a risk not as an investment which is why they secure the loan against an asset i.e., your home.
- 5. YOUR PLAN 'SHOULD'WORK •A business plan provides realistic projections for profit and growth. • FACT: Most business plans are based on assumptions that are almost always unstated and untested.
- 6. IT CAN'T GOWRONG •A business plan identifies strengths and weaknesses and opportunities and threats. • FACT: Most of the things that go wrong are not identified in a business plan ... but are 'obvious' in hindsight.
- 7. HOW DOES AVC LOOK AT YOUR BUSINESS? •A venture capitalist looks at your business VERY differently to the way a bank does. • FACT: 99% of businesses that seek VC funding fail to do so
- 8. LOOK AT YOURBUSINESS THE WAY WE DO • Yourbusiness is almost certainly based on unstated and untested assumptions. • We offer a methodology that shows you how to identify and stress test everything you are assuming to be true about your business.
- 9. HIGH SPEED STRATEGY •You can perform a focused 90 minute high speed strategic audit that helps you clearly explore 8 of the top factors that WILL impact the success of your business. • Itis ideal if you want a very clear picture of your current and projected strategy.
- 10. WHAT WE LOOKFOR Set aside 90 minutes to get CLEAR and DETAILED answers to these 8 questions 1. How clear is 2. What problem is our our business idea? customer trying to solve? 3. Who exactly is on our 4. How do we know there is operating team? a market for our idea? 6. How do we know our 5. What do we actually sell? business is worth doing? 7. What infrastructure 8. What systems and is actually required? processes are critical to the success of our business?
- 11. THE 80 DAYSTRATEGY • The80 day programme (16 weeks) enables you to methodically clarify your business concept, test all the underlying assumptions and devise a plan worth implementing. • The 16 week programme* is based on a commitment of 30 minutes per day. *Success in 80 Days is available in DIY or Mentored versions.
- 12. SUCCESS IN 80DAYS Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Business orientation Business modelling Create a plan and information and opportunity worth gathering mapping implementing Stress test and cross Operations and *Destination check assumptions. management processes Vehicle and controls Territory Draw out Team opportunities Business ‘scorecard’ and problems and ‘dashboard’ *The Destination activity: For the next 2 weeks, schedule 30 minutes a day to clearly describe your business ideally and exactly as you want it. (Solo or team activity.)
- 13. SUITABLE FOR • TheHigh Speed Strategic Audit and Success in 80 Days programme are ideal start-ups and highly recommended for established businesses that are under-performing.
- 14.