My Agile2013 Workshop. So you want to do a startup! How do you get from idea to initial product launch?

1. So You Want to Do a Startup!
Abby Fichtner
@HackerChick
Harvard Innovation Lab

2. @HackerChick
your
startup
isn’t
business
it’s
hobby
@Justin_Wilcox
a
a

3. @HackerChick
your startup
hobby business
fun
obsession
cost lots $
@Justin_Wilcox

4. @HackerChick
your startup
fun
obsession
cost lots $
@Justin_Wilcox
$150K salary
opportunity cost
hobby business

5. @HackerChick
your startup
fun
obsession
cost lots $
@Justin_Wilcox
profit $
hobby business

6. @HackerChick

7. @HackerChick
?
What’s your
idea

8. @HackerChick Photo Credit: Poe Tatrum@HackerChick
idea

9. @HackerChick
Go!

10. @HackerChick
• Can I Build It?
Thinking ‘Bout Your
Startup
• Can I Get People to Know About It?
• Can I Make Money From It?

11. @HackerChick
• Can I Make Money From It?
Thinking ‘Bout Your
Startup
• Can I Get People to Know About It?
• Can I Build It?

12. @HackerChick

13. @HackerChick
COOL?

14. @HackerChick
Step #1
problem
Find a
worth solving

15. @HackerChick
We had an idea for a new product.
We went off & built it, put it on our website.

16. @HackerChick
We had an idea for a new product.
not a single person clicked thru
We went off & built it, put it on our website.

17. @HackerChick
What did we learn
from that?
We had an idea for a new product.
not a single person clicked thru
We went off & built it, put it on our website.

18. @HackerChick
Was there a faster
way to learn that?
We had an idea for a new product.
not a single person clicked thru
We went off & built it, put it on our website.

19. @HackerChick

20. @HackerChick

21. @HackerChick
• Can I Make Money From It?
Thinking ‘Bout Your
Startup
• Can I Get People to Know About It?
• Can I Build It?

22. @HackerChick

23. @HackerChick

24. @HackerChick

25. @HackerChick

26. @HackerChick@HackerChick

27. @HackerChick@HackerChick

28. @HackerChick
75,000
signups overnight

29. @HackerChick
$10 MILLION

30. @HackerChick
69,000
backers

31. @HackerChick
site ?
How do you get
to your
people

32. @HackerChick
customer
know your
Step #2

33. vision

34. @HackerChick

35. @HackerChick
Startup Goal
VISION REALITY

36. @HackerChick
market
team
product

37. @HackerChick
market
team
product

38. @HackerChick

39. @HackerChick
10 100

40. @HackerChick
Photo Sharing
Recipe App
Facebook for
<happy people/smart kids/psychos/dogs/travel agents/astronauts…>
Group Travel Planning
Discover Local Events

41. @HackerChick
small
Start

42. @HackerChick
Brainstorm
Customer Problem
anyone who cooks can’t find recipes

43. @HackerChick
Brainstorm
Customer Problem
amateur gourmet chefs want to make fabulous
food for friends & family
dieters need to lose weight
anyone who cooks can’t find recipes
in college
^

44. @HackerChick
Go!

45. @HackerChick
Customer
Interviews Photo Credit: Zimthiger (Flickr)

46. @HackerChick@HackerChick

47. @HackerChick
What are the
Top 3 Problems?

48. @HackerChick
How are they solving those
problems today?

49. @HackerChick
Go!

50. @HackerChick
• Can I Make Money From It?
Thinking ‘Bout Your
Startup
• Can I Get People to Know About It?
• Can I Build It?

51. @HackerChick
Step #3
solution
Find a
that resonates

52. @HackerChickBoston Startup School - @HackerChick@HackerChick
Concierge Service
(AKA Wizard of Oz)

53. @HackerChick

54. @HackerChick

55. @HackerChick

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Step #4…n-1

57. @HackerChick
“In a great market – a market with lots of real
potential customers – the market pulls product
out of the startup.”
- Marc Andreessen
Product/Market Fit
VISION REALITY

58. @HackerChick
• Can I Make Money From It?
Thinking ‘Bout Your
Startup
• Can I Get People to Know About It?
• Can I Build It?

59. @HackerChick
Step #n
launch!
when you have a
quantum of utility
@paulg, Y Combinator

60. @HackerChick
Go!

61. @HackerChick
• Your initial product
Share
• Your idea
• Your customer
• The problem you’re solving

62. Abby Fichtner
@HackerChick
http://HackerChick.com
Thanks!