The previous deck [http://www.slideshare.net/suhasd/30-things] was the introduction on the structure of what I am sharing with you, and what you could learn from these seven decks. The decks are broken down by: Introduction (deck 1) [http://www.slideshare.net/suhasd/30-things] Idea (deck 2) Starting ( deck 3) | Executing (deck 4) Funding (deck 5) | Marketing | Selling (deck 6) People | Emotions | Learning (deck 7) Results This deck is on the Idea where I shall attempt to talk about what to do when you get the Idea, and when you get the entrepreneurship itch. How do you start running with it. What do you protect against. What are the potential pitfalls

1. PART 2 – The Idea
things that
I learned
from my
startup
experience
Suhas Dutta

2. “
”
JK Rowling’s speech at Harvard Business School

3. So far…
• We went through the basic building blocks for ideating
your startup, thinking about how to get it up on its feet,
getting it to run and so on.
Idea
Starting
Executing
Funding
Marketing
Selling
People
Emotions
Learning
Results
• Lets dwell on the “Idea” a bit.

4. I have this really smart idea…
• Sure, and perhaps a dozen
other people have the same
(or very similar) idea.
Getting to be the first mover
certainly will improve your
chances of success.
• Ask
yourself
without
emotion - Will your idea
solve a real problem in this
world? If you do not have a
clear
answer
as
to
how…then your idea is not
well formed yet and needs
more work.

5. I have this really smart idea…
• Pilot / Prototype - Only
way to figure whether it
will work or not is to
start working on it, and
prototyping. This could
be the product, or the
service that you will
provide.
• Start small, but do the
pilot test. You don’t
have to jump into the
river right away.
Ideate
Check
Fitment
Prototype
/ Pilot
Create
Product /
Service

6. Quick segue…
Ideate
Validate
Basic ideation cycle
Check
Fitment
Prototype
/ Pilot
Product
Business
Basic startup execution cycle
Plan
Validate

7. I have this really smart idea…
•
Ask yourself these standard questions
–
Again – what problem are you trying to
solve and for who? Does your solution
fit?
–
Is your solution the first of its type? Has
someone tried this before and failed? If
that someone has failed, you definitely
do want to know the “why”.
–
Will you have competitors? How will
you be better than a competitor?
–
Will someone actually be willing to pay
for your solution? Who is your final
customer?
•
Clear answers to these should provide
you good insight.
•
If you are unable to get clear answers,
you need to revisit your idea.

8. I have this really smart idea…
• Does your idea appear
smart to other people as
well?
• Discuss your idea with a
few
like
minded
individuals, who either
know the industry, have
decent general business
sense or understand the
complexities
of
the
technology that you might
be dealing with.
• Don’t be discouraged by
the naysayers.

9. SMART

10. I have this really smart idea…
• Go find a potential
customer and speak
with him /her about
your idea to verify
whether your product
/service is perceived
to solve a problem.
• Besides
feedback,
you might get ideas
on additional features
for
your
product
/service.

11. I have this really smart idea…
• …and locate a person who is
seasoned from the area
/industry you will be working in
or
perhaps
has
done
something
similar
before.
Someone who can show you
how.
• This person could become
your mentor too. Try to stick
with the same mentor for a
longish duration unless there is
something seriously wrong in
terms of advice.
• BTW, beware that many of
these kind of people will refuse
to mentor you if you haven’t
done the prototype yet.

12. • Now that we have gone through the Idea
stage, go on to Part 3 where we shall go
through the planning, and starting up.

13. • Have questions or feedback? Write to me.
• If you need a bit of help in terms of mentoring, reviewing
material, vetting a plan or the like…I would be happy to help a
fellow entrepreneur start her/his journey. It will cost you just a
cup of coffee.
• If you have already started and could do with some strategic
advice, helping create your business plans or your investment
pitch, marketing strategy, fulfill your company’s training needs,
need advice on the pitch etc, please feel free to reach me.
• My coordinates are:
– reach@delhigate.com
– linkedin.com/in/suhasdutta/

14. OUTSOURCING STRATEGY
IT ADVISORY
LEARNING STRATEGY
RETAIL
OFFSHORING STRATEGY
PROCESS ENGINEERING
TRAINING
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
CIO ON TAP
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
STARTUP ADVISORY
+91 9980711477 | +91 9980525553
reach@delhigate.com