Every small or new business is NOT a Startup! A startup is the effort to prove that any innovative technology, product, or business idea can not only solve the problem effectively (Proof-of-Product) but can do so profitably (Proof-of-Business). This milestone of building and achieving proof is referred to in FORGE as Minimum Viable Business (MVB). Business planning is more important than the Business Plan – a document that investors expect startups to write but they don’t read! A lack of this awareness leads to entrepreneurs reusing business plan templates and considering them final and binding. Also widespread is the myth that the process of business planning requires highly specialized skills, is very complex, and only required for large corporates. Business planning is about setting a course for the future, making choices and committing to actions. The soundness of a Business Plan is in the clarity of purpose, focus on goals, in how robust are the choices made, and the actions planned/taken. The Startup CEO Toolkit offers a set of methods and tools built using the MVB methodology, aimed at enhancing the outcomes of the planning process. These methods and tools offer innovators and startup entrepreneurs a simple yet effective, light-weight yet rigorous, and analytical yet visual approach to business planning and business strategy. We offer the MVB BootCamp – a 3 day very intensive and hands-on workshop where startup entrepreneurs work with peers and business mentors/experts to learn and apply the MVB tools and methods in order to rapidly build proof-of-business for their technology, product, or business ideas, and turn them into Investable Startups. Over 200 Startup entrepreneurs in Coimbatore, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, New Delhi, and Ahmedabad have attended the workshops. They have applied the MVB methods and tools to rapidly explore, build and achieve proof for their business models!

1. MVB PRIMER
VISHWANATH (VISH) SAHASRANAMAM
VICE PRESIDENT (FORGE)
www.forgeforward.in FORGE Accelerator

2. What does the
STARTUP CEO do?

3. What is a
STARTUP?

4. A STARTUP IS NOT A NEW COMPANY
A STARTUP IS NOT A SMALL COMPANY

5. What is a
STARTUP?

6. IDEA
WHAT IS A STARTUP?
to build proof for solving the problem effectively & p
Proof of BUSINESS
Proof of PRODUCT

7. A Startup is an effort to build
proof that this innovative
technology, product, or
business idea can not only
solve the target problem
effectively but also profitably!

8. Business MODEL
How does the
Business make
Profits?

9. A BUSINESS MODEL IS A METHOD TO
SOLVE A PROBLEM PROFITABLY!
WHAT IS A BUSINESS
MODEL?
Vegetable Vendor
Retail Store
Google (AdWords)
ROLEX
Indigo
Apple
RedBus
METHOD = APPROACH = PROCESS

10. Elevator PITCH
Your Business Model In 30 seconds…
<Problem X
is solved with Solution Y
making profits via Z>

11. What does the
Startup CEO do?

12. WHAT does the
Startup CEO do?
IDEA
INVESTABLE
Startup
Proof of BUSINESS
Proof of PRODUCT

13. HOW does the
Startup CEO do?
IDEA
INVESTABLE
Startup
Proof of BUSINESS
Proof of PRODUCT

14. How to build
PROOF?

15. IDEA
Solution to a Problem A BUSINESS in motion
Start a BUSINESS not a STARTUP
Proof of BUSINESS
Proof of PRODUCT

16. convert idea into BUSINESS

17. PROBLEM CUSTOMER SOLUTION
VALUE PROP REVENUE COMPETITION

18. HOW does the
Startup CEO do?
IDEA
INVESTABLE
Startup
Proof of BUSINESS
Proof of PRODUCT

19. How to build
PROOF-OF-PRODUCT?

20. First 3 THINGS of a STARTUP
MINIMUM
CRITICAL PROBLEM
FIRST
TARGET
CUSTOMER
MINIMUM
VIABLE PRODUCT
1 2 3

21. First 3 THINGS of a STARTUP
MINIMUM
CRITICAL PROBLEM
1 Are you solving the MINIMUM
CRITICAL PROBLEM that helps
create significant value (solve a
problem to achieve a goal) to
largest number of potential
customers?

22. First 3 THINGS of a STARTUP
FIRST
TARGET
CUSTOMER
2 Is your FIRST TARGET
CUSTOMER the most willing
and capable to solve this
minimum critical problem?

23. First 3 THINGS of a STARTUP
MINIMUM
VIABLE PRODUCT
3 Is your MINIMUM VIABLE
PRODUCT solving this minimum
problem with a unique,
affordable, easy and convenient
solution?

24. HOW does the
Startup CEO do?
IDEA
INVESTABLE
Startup
Proof of BUSINESS
Proof of PRODUCT

25. How to build
PROOF-OF-BUSINESS?

26. IDEA
Profitable & Scalable
HIGH GROWTH
Business Model
MINIMUM VIABLE
BUSINESS (MVB)
MOST VALUABLE
BUSINESS (MVB)

27. Smallest size-scale Predictable Revenue
Same Target Customer Same Operating Plan A risk-free Business Plan
Same Product & Price
MINIMUM VIABLE BUSINESS (MVB)

28. What is REPEATABLE becomes
VIABLE!
MVB is the smallest size/scale business that earns revenues
predictably (revenue per time period) and repeatedly (operating the
same plan consistently);
MVB is achieved with the (reasonably) lowest cash and in the
(practically) shortest time;
MINIMUM VIABLE BUSINESS (MVB)

29. ‘Money value of Time’ of the time an
entrepreneur INVESTS in a startup is more
valuable than the ‘Time Value of Money’ of the
money an investor INVESTS in this startup!
introspection

30. For Early-Stage Investors:
What can be PROFITABLE & SCALABLE becomes INVESTABLE!!!
Investable Startup is any startup that shows immense potential to
build a BIG profitable, scalable and high-growth business!
INVESTABLE STARTUP

31. For Late-Stage Investors:
What is PROFITABLE & SCALABLE becomes INVESTABLE!!!
Investable Startup is any startup that shows compelling proof of this
potential to build a BIG profitable, scalable and high-growth
business!
INVESTABLE STARTUP

32.  POTENTIAL for a BIG business
A profitable, scalable and high-growth BUSINESS MODEL
 PROOF for the IMMENSE POTENTIAL
A Viable business at the smallest scale/size
 PLAN to build this PROOF
Business Plan to operate and demonstrate viability
INVESTABLE STARTUP

33. Does it have the POTENTIAL to become a profitable, scalable and
high-growth business model?
Do you know what will be PROOF for this potential in the smallest
scale/size of business?
Do you have the business and operating PLAN to build this proof?
introspection
Are YOU building an
INVESTABLE STARTUP?

34. How does the
Startup CEO do?
Startup INVESTABLE
Startup
Proof of BUSINESS
Proof of PRODUCT

35. How does the
Startup CEO do?
visioning a business with immense potential;
designing a business model that is profitable, scalable
and high-growth;
exploring the proof for this immense potential in the
smallest size/scale of the business;
operating a business plan to build a viable business as
proof with lowest cash and in the least time.

36. INVESTABLE STARTUP
REPEATABLE
VIABLE
PROFITABLE
SCALABLE

37. PLANNING FOR PROOF
PROOF OF
BUSINESS
- Time Period
- Cash
TARGET BUSINESS
METRICS
- Business Ecosystem metrics
- Revenue
- Revenue metrics
- Unit Profits

38. PROOF = INVESTABLE Startup

40. INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

41. INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

42. INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST
MINIMUM
CRITICAL PROBLEM
1 Are you solving the MINIMUM
CRITICAL PROBLEM that helps
create significant value (solve a
problem to achieve a goal) to
largest number of beneficiaries
(different customer types)?

43. FIRST
TARGET
CUSTOMER
2 Is your FIRST TARGET
CUSTOMER the most willing
and capable to solve this
minimum critical problem?
INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

44. MINIMUM
VIABLE PRODUCT
3 Is your MINIMUM VIABLE
PRODUCT solving this minimum
problem with a unique,
affordable, easy and convenient
solution?
INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

45. NEW
BUSINESS
ECOSYSTEM
4 Can you build a NEW
BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM to
create, deliver, and capture
value at a scale unmatched by
existing or future competitors?
INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

46. BIG
TARGET MARKET
5 Is your TARGET MARKET
disproportionately bigger than
the market currently served by
the existing players?
INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

47. MINIMUM
REPEATABLE
REVENUE
6 What is the MINIMUM
REPEATABLE REVENUE that
proves the viability of the
revenue model, achieved in the
shortest time period relevant to
your business?
INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

48. CUSTOMER
ACQUISITION &
GROWTH
7 What is the lowest cost operating
plan for CUSTOMER
ACQUISITION & GROWTH to
achieve the minimum target
revenue?
INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

49. SCALABLE
UNIT ECONOMICS
8 Can the UNIT PROFITS lead to
operating profits at smallest
scale? Can the BUSINESS
MODEL be scaled up at lowest
capital to achieve high profit
growth?
INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

50. BUSINESS PLAN for
Building PROOF
9 How complete/practical is the
BUSINESS PLAN of the startup
to build PROOF (Target MVB)
for the potential for a profitable,
scalable and high-growth
business?
INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

51. CAPABLE TEAM for
Building PROOF
10 Is the TEAM CAPABLE to
operate the plan and achieve the
Target MVB within the lowest
time & least capital?
INVESTABLE STARTUP CHECKLIST

53. MVB BootCamp Agenda
Day-1 Day-2 Day-3
9am Kick-Off
Intro & Registration
930 am ASSESS
Self-Assessment using the Investable
Startup Checklist
1000am CHALLENGE
Peer challenge using the BUSINESS
IDEA CANVAS
1130am ANALYZE
PV (Problem Validation) & CD
(Customer Discovery) Canvas
130pm Lunch (email & work break)
330pm LEARN
Disruptive Innovation for Startups
530pm STRATEGIZE
Minimum Viable Product
7pm Breakout
9am STRATEGIZE
Competitive Business Advantages
Business Ecosystem Design
1130am STRATEGIZE
Target Market Planning
Minimum Target Revenue
130pm Lunch (email & work break)
230 pm STRATEGIZE
Customer Acquisition & Growth
UNIT Economics
Business Model (RE)Design
7pm Breakout
930 am 1-on-1s with Mentors &
Investors
130pm Lunch (email & work break)
230 pm MVB PITCH Session
7pm Breakout

54. w www.forgeforward.in
f FORGE Accelerator
e mvb@forgeforward.in
VISHWANATH
Vice President
(FORGE)
Coimbatore Innovation and
Business Incubator
M: +91-7598446822
E: vishwanath@forgeforward.in