1-2 weeks program

Startup Scan: Find a problem worth solving

Challenge

Entrepreneurs and innovators often grapple with ensuring their ideas not only meet a market need but can also evolve into a sustainable business. The key lies in validating the core problem your concept aims to solve and understanding the real-world implications and potential of the solution.

Our Solution

Startup Scan was designed at our sister company The Main Ingredient to help validate an idea for a startup before investing months of work and recourses. Within two weeks, you will progress from abstract ideas to concrete experiments, with a focus on real-world feedback and rapid prototyping. Our approach is to test and iterate quickly, ensuring your proposition is grounded in actual customer needs and market viability. At The Main Ingredient we ran over 30 Startup Scans to validate or invalidate an idea for a startup with great success.

Program Benefits

  • Rapid Validation: Accelerate the journey from concept to validation with real-time feedback loops.

  • Customer-Centric Design: Ensure your idea resonates with your target audience through direct engagement.

  • Prototyping Efficiency: Develop prototypes rapidly to test hypotheses and refine your proposition.

  • Clear Roadmap: Emerge with a clear direction and actionable steps to take your startup idea forward.

  • Market Insight: Gain invaluable insights into the market to better position your potential startup.

Who This Is For

Startup Scan is perfect for:

  • Aspiring Entrepreneurs with a concept but seeking market validation.

  • Innovation Teams within corporations aiming to launch new ventures.

  • Designers and Product Developers wanting to test and refine their ideas.

  • Business Strategists looking to explore and validate new business models.

Program Outline

Week 1: Problem Identification and Experimentation

  • Day 1: Kickoff, Team Alignment, Design Criteria, Sprint Goals

  • Day 2-3: Homework for Interviews, Experiment 1

  • Day 4: Ideation Workshop, 100+ Ideas, Direction Selection

  • Day 5: Homework for Prototyping

Week 2: Prototyping and Market Testing

  • Day 6: Recap, Refinement, Experiment 2

  • Day 7: Pivot Decision, Define Experiment 3, Prototype Refinement

  • Day 8-9: Homework for Interviews, Experiment 3

  • Day 10: Next Steps, Business Model, Backlog, Roadmap

This program provides a structured yet agile framework for bringing startup ideas to life, ensuring that each step is informed by real-world interactions and feedback.

Customise this program

For teams seeking a profound transformation, reach out so we can create the perfect Growth Getaway for your team.

Schedule a call

Our approach

Direction

No two business retreats are the same. We want to understand your goals as a company and how the business retreat can best support that.

Your Program

We draft a custom program, select possible accommodations and activities and send you a detailed proposal including budget.

Arrangements

We will set a timeline and (once agreed) book all of the accommodations, activities, food & drinks, workspace and transport. We'll share a full itinerary and program schedule to all team members.

Arrival

On your travel days, we will pick you up at the airport in Lisbon and make sure you settle in nicely in our wonderful town.

Getaway

During your Getaway, you will be accompanied by our workshop facilitators, experts and locals who guide you when you need them.

Aftercare

We will check in with you regularly to see if your goals are met. After the Getaway we always check in with you to help support the long term goals and changes that started during your Getaway.

Our approach

Direction

No two business retreats are the same. We want to understand your goals as a company and how the business retreat can best support that.

Your Program

We draft a custom program, select possible accommodations and activities and send you a detailed proposal including budget.

Arrangements

We will set a timeline and (once agreed) book all of the accommodations, activities, food & drinks, workspace and transport. We'll share a full itinerary and program schedule to all team members.

Arrival

On your travel days, we will pick you up at the airport in Lisbon and make sure you settle in nicely in our wonderful town.

Getaway

During your Getaway, you will be accompanied by our workshop facilitators, experts and locals who guide you when you need them.

Aftercare

We will check in with you regularly to see if your goals are met. After the Getaway we always check in with you to help support the long term goals and changes that started during your Getaway.