Your post-workshop resources
Thank you so much for attending the startup growth workshop.
I hope you found it useful.
I'll be in touch with you 4 more times (after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months) to collect a small amount of data from you - a prerequisite of the funding from UK Gov. It will take less than a minute each time.
By providing this information you'll make it much easier for me to continue to provide these workshops for free, for entrepreneurs like you.
Now scroll down for resources, slides, and useful links and offers…
My six-step validation process
You can find an old version of my validation process written up here (updated blogpost coming soon, but the main concepts are the same!):
The Mom Test
You should read The Mom Test. It takes about three hours. But if you'd rather get your information from listening and watching, check these videos below.
First up is the author, Rob Fitzpatrick, speaking on a podcast in more depth about his Mom Test methodology for customer conversations:
A fun, interactive video that gives you clear answers, based on your use case.
The survey
This is the type of survey I use to gather my first handful of customer interviews. Remember that surveys aren’t that great for nuanced, contextualised, data. But they are good for building a rough picture, and allowing you to segment your customer type along demographic lines.
But it’s mainly the beginning of a great process for getting them on the phone to conduct those all important customer interviews.
If you are signed into Google, you can make a copy of the survey here , and then populate with your own questions.
Remember, it’s VERY important that upon getting on the phone with them that you honour your promise not to sell. Not only because it’s a vital part of getting honest feedback, but also because you never know when you might need to have another conversation with them.
And finally, because this *increases* the chances of them becoming one of your very first customers.
Slides!
Here’s the presentation from the workshop…
Some recommended services (regularly updated)…
Here are a few services, sites, and products that I regularly use or recommend. Most of these are Welsh companies…
Hello Starling - A great Cardiff media planning and buying agency to get you noticed.
ShipShape - Need investment? This is a great investor search engine.
Perks
Ramp - Promotional merch company for everything you might need to promote your business - from t-shirts to mugs. For 10% off online orders, use “PMH10”.
The Programme Group are offering 30% off for all attendees who want to take advantage of their Start-Up Mentor Coaching Service.
Our sponsors
Hugh James - Siôn Tudur at Hugh James has been my lawyer for several years now, and has advised on multiple complex problems, and oversaw the sale of my startup.
Cadre Advisory - The go-to guys for everything financial. Book-keeping, tax, investment. They’ve got an answer for you!
We Get Design - Need to build a working prototype quickly, efficiently, and with the minimum of fuss? WGD use no-code and low-code solutions to do this incredibly cost-effectively. Your extended tech team, committed to years of tailored growth.
Ogi - Ogi are Wales’s leading alternative network provider. Dedicated to Wales Ogi helps businesses of all shapes and sizes be unstoppable.
Tramshed Tech - The home of startups in Wales. Co-working, startup programmes, advice and support.
Some videos for further viewing
How to get and evaluate startup ideas
Remember, the idea isn’t as important as you think it is. It’s whether it’s solving a problem for a customer, and how well you execute the business, that is a much better predictor of success. On its own, your idea is not really worth a whole lot.
How to build a startup without funding
This fun talk from a brilliant serial entrepreneur is absolutely packed full of tips and hints about how to hack your way to success. And Pieter Levels has done it multiple times…
How to validate a medical device
Fantastic video showing how a medical device did lots of great validation without spending huge amounts of time and money on building and development. Thanks to Peter from AgileKinetic for the tipoff about this.
Contact
You can find me via LinkedIn, or drop me a line via the box on the right.