Summary of Entrepreneurial Ideation and Brainstorming

## Introduction This study material summarizes a 14-week startup curriculum and explains how you can progress through a structured venture journey from problem identification to final pitches. It breaks down each phase, highlights core learning goals and brainstorming fundamentals relevant to early-stage ventures, and offers practical examples, templates and guidance for applying concepts in team settings. > **Definition:** A startup curriculum is a structured sequence of learning modules and activities designed to guide teams from problem discovery to validated venture pitches over a defined timeline. ## Program Structure: 14-Week Venture Journey The program is organized into 12 thematic modules across 14 weeks. Each module builds on the previous ones to convert a chosen problem into a viable, scalable venture. ### Weeks 1–2: Problem Identification - Objectives: - Orientation to program goals and deliverables - Develop a macro industry-problem view - Assemble real-world problems and select one to pursue - Examine and analyze the chosen problem - Activities: - Industry mapping workshops - Problem framing sessions and root-cause analysis - Example: In a healthcare industry mapping exercise, list pain points patients face when booking specialist appointments and prioritize those with high frequency and impact. ### Weeks 2–4: Customer Identification & Needs Validation - Objectives: - Identify customer segments and their ‘jobs-to-be-done’ - Develop customer personas - Learn customer validation techniques and validate customer-problem fit - Pivot or refine as needed for feasibility - Activities: - Interviews, surveys, and observational studies - Persona creation and empathy mapping - Example: For appointment booking, interview patients, clinic staff and doctors to validate which segment has the strongest unmet need. ### Week 4: Solution Ideation (Note: idea generation topics are covered elsewhere and not repeated here) - Objective: Understand ideation techniques and how teams approach solution concepts. ### Week 5: Opportunity & Competition Mapping - Objectives: - Identify global competitors - Review industry trends and estimate market size (TAM) - Introduction to financial planning - Activities: - Competitive landscape matrices - High-level TAM calculations > **Definition:** Total Addressable Market (TAM) is the total revenue opportunity available for a product or service if it captured 100% of the market. ### Week 6: Prototype Development & MVP - Objectives: - Overview of prototypes and MVPs - Build an initial prototype for early validation - Use prototypes to gather feedback and iterate - Activities: - Rapid prototyping sprints - Usability testing with early adopters ### Weeks 7–8: Opportunity Feasibility Assessment & Sizing - Objectives: - Map relative market position - Estimate opportunity size and market segments - Activities: - Market segmentation and sizing exercises - Top-down and bottom-up estimation techniques ### Weeks 8–9: Business Modelling - Objectives: - Examine and select revenue models - Organize and complete the Lean Canvas for your startup - Activities: - Revenue model comparisons and unit economics exercises - Lean Canvas workshops ### Weeks 9–10: Marketing & Sales Strategy - Objectives: - Understand marketing and sales fundamentals - Recommend a Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy - Map a sales process for early customers - Activities: - Channel selection and customer acquisition cost (CAC) modeling - Build a simple sales funnel ### Weeks 11–12: Financial Management for Profitability - Objectives: - Deep dive into financial planning and projections - Analyze path to profitability - Learn about bootstrapping and funding options - Activities: - Create a 12–24 month financial model - Scenario analysis for revenue, costs and runway ### Week 12: Team & Talent Requirements - Objectives: - Find co-founders and mentors - Design an