10 steps to smarter startup investments.
This comprehensive guide, developed by Board of Innovation, offers a 10-step framework for corporations to evaluate startup investment opportunities. It blends Design Thinking and Lean Startup methodologies to provide a structured approach, from initial considerations and strategic alignment to in-depth validation and final investment decisions. The guide emphasizes the importance of validated evidence and strategic alignment for successful corporate-startup collaborations.
Points clés
- The guide was created by Board of Innovation to help corporations innovate like startups.
- It outlines a 10-step process for evaluating startups for potential investment.
- The process is divided into “Preparatory Work, Light Effort” (Steps 1-6) and “Hands-on, Intensive” (Steps 7-10).
- Step 1, “Kickoff considerations,” advises on framing the evaluation as a “rapid evaluation track” and prioritizing honesty from startups.
- Step 2, “Objectives and Strategy,” highlights defining clear organizational goals for investment, distinguishing between financial returns and strategic positioning.
- Corporate investment objectives are categorized as Driving, Emergent, Enabling, or Passive, based on strategic goals and operational linkage.
- Step 3, “The Pitch,” emphasizes the importance of a formal pitch and lists “no-no’s” like “We can’t share anything without an NDA” or “We just want 1% of this huge market.”
- Step 5, “Venture Maturity Evaluation,” details different startup maturity levels: Conceptual, Launch, Startup, Venture Growth, and Mature Venture/SME.
- Step 7, “Venture Validation,” outlines five investment criteria to validate: Team, Strategic Fit, Business Model Validation, Solution Validation, and Problem Validation.
- The guide mentions Julie de la Kethulle de Ryhove and Tarryn Leigh Lewis as Innovation Consultants who brought the guide to fruition.
À retenir
So, you want to invest in a startup? Excellent! This guide will hold your hand through the perilous journey of separating the next unicorn from the next… well, let’s just say, a very enthusiastic but ultimately doomed horse. Remember, it’s not just about the money; it’s about whether they’re honest, don’t hide behind NDAs, and aren’t trying to sell you 1% of a market they haven’t even touched. Because apparently, even in the cutthroat world of venture capital, honesty is still the best policy – or at least, a good indicator they won’t waste your precious capital on a feature-mania fueled fantasy.
Sources
Quiz sur le document: 10 questions
