Problem validation, MVP

1. How to Start Up
By: Susie Pan (@susieshier)
ICE Conference – April 2015

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Agenda
1. Who am I?
2. Lean Startup
– Problem validation
– MVP
– Experimentation
3. Examples
– Wirkn
– Science Expo
4. Q&A

3. WHO AM I?

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Susie Pan
Wanderer
Connector
World Traveler
Serial Entrepreneur

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My Journey

6. THE WORKSHOP

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Why do people become entrepreneurs?

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Biggest Misconception
Fall in love with your problem,
not your solution.

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This Workshop
How to breakdown a really
complicated problem into
assumptions to validate?

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The Lean Startup

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Minimum Viable Product

12. REAL EXAMPLES

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Example 1: http://wir.kn/ice

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Problem Validation
1. Students/millennials have a hard time
getting jobs
– Wirkn makes the process easier
2. Managers want a better process for
screening
– Wirkn helps managers save time, lower costs, and
provide higher quality

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Take 5 minutes to discuss…
What are some assumptions
being made?
What are some tests to run to
validate the assumptions?

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Assumptions
1. People would apply to employers, not jobs
2. Applicants don’t mind recording videos
3. Employers prefer to screen videos over resumes
4. Geography is key consideration in searching for jobs
5. Colleagues want the ability to message each other
in-app
6. Shift management is a big problem for employers
and employees

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Example 2: Science Expo
Problem: STEM education in school is insufficient
Assumption: Learning should also occur beyond the
classroom
Solution: Connections to enrichment opportunities
Delivery: Programming

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New Program: Mentorship or Ambassadors
Take 5 minutes to write down:
Problem: How do you break down this problem?
Assumption: What assumptions are you making?
Solution: What are potential solutions?
Delivery: How can you test those assumptions?

19. CONCLUSION

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Key Takeaways
1. Fall in love with your problem, not your solution
2. Solve the problem better than everyone else
3. Build, measure, learn in the most cost and time
effective way
4. Running a startup is simply a series of experiments
to de-risk and validate your assumptions
5. Have key metrics as your North Star guide

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Thank you!
• Fill in the survey please
• Connect
– www.wirkn.com | @GetWirkn
– www.science-expo.org | @ScienceExpo
– www.susiepan.com | @Susieshier
• Get involved
– Sign up!
– Send me a message
• Ask questions