The Startup Owners Manual
The Startup Owners Manual
The Startup Owners Manual
Natassa Koufaki
Business Consultant, Euroconsultants SA
Wednesday, 5/11/2014,
University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki
Business Idea Generation
Business Models vs Business
Plans
Επιχειρηματικό Σχέδιο: Ενα έγγραφο το οποίο γράφετε
και οι επενδυτές δεν διαβάζουν.
- Steve Blank
Business Model Canvas
Strategy
Past Belief What we know now
You start any company with No Business Plan survives
an operating plan (business first contact with customer
plan) and a financial model. The first years on a startup
Spend a lot of time on is completely unpredictable
writing the business plan There is no way you could
all need to do is execute it put together all data in a 5-
year plan
What’s a Startup?
A temporary organisation designed to search in a
repeatable and scalable business model
What is a Startup?
Startups Are Not Smaller Versions of Larger
Companies
Steve Blank
According to Steve Blank:
1. You need planning before the plan, i.e. you
need some real facts before you could write the
BP
2. Figure out how to actually do some planning
and then you get to write the business plan.
3. You need some real facts before you could do
that
HOW?
Organize your facts with Alexander Oscar Walters'
Business Model Canvas
Value Proposition
What value are you building and for Who?
Customers are not here to buy. You are here for them
Channels
How does the product
get to customers?
Physical channels…
Mobile Web channels…
Customer Relationships
You can figure this out by interacting with customers so you finally
understand what the right revenue streams and revenue model is
Key Resources
What are your most important Assets to make
the business model work?
(knowledge, patents, people in specific areas,
customer lists, finance, capital, machines….)
Key Partners
Who are your partners and suppliers needed to make the business
model work?
What key activities do they perform and when?
Could be strategic alliances, joint ventures, just regular suppliers and
buyers
Key Activities
What are the most important things the company must do in order
for the business model to work?
Production?
Problem Solving?
Consulting?
Supply Chain Management?
Cost Structure
What are the costs and expenses to operate the business model?
Fixed?
Variable?
Which key activities are the most expensive?
What are the most expensive resources?
Interesting videos
The Business Model Canvas in 2 minutes:
The Business Model Canvas Explained
Alexander
Osterwalder: Sketching Out a Business Model
3 major tips for generating your first
business model prototype
1. Don’t do it alone
2. Set up a time limit
3. Never write on the business model canvas
Why Do Startups Fail
Co-founders fight and company breaks up?
They can't build their initial spec or vision? No one will fund the idea?
Too few people buy or use the product?
What can happen to a startup?
A) It can grow into a company and hopefully a large company after
you found a repeatable and scalable business model.
B) You can still pivoting and iterating as you continue to search for a
business model.
C) You could have found a business model but may be one that isn't
an explosive growth, but you could be growing slowly and barely
breaking even.
D) Maybe you never found the business model but you can make
money and you run out of money in time and you shut your company
down.
Supplementary Reading
• www.virtualhub.eu
The TRIGGER e-tools
• A repository of e-tools – free to use and easy to understand
• Business toolbox
• Business Plan
• Marketing Plan
• Financial Analysis
• Trigger School
• Project Office
• Lobby Lounge
• Mentor’s Corner
Content Layout
Five Modules
Basic concepts of entrepreneurship (Start up life cycle:
Idea generation to pitching)
Each module consists of 3 sub-modules
Each module includes:
Training material in .ppt
Resources for further Reading (articles, templates etc)
Knowledge tests
Modules
Modules
Contacts
Contact Details
Address 21, Antonis Tritsis Str., 570 01, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece
Landline (+30).231.080.4000
Fax (+30).231.080.4100
Web http://www.euroconsultants.gr