Core 77 Conference: Designing Here Now 2016
Transcript of Core 77 Conference: Designing Here Now 2016
Core77 Conference Designing Here/Now
September 29 – 30, 2016
Design Founders: From Idea to Launch
From idea to launch
Part 1: What is 30 Weeks? Part 2: 30 Weeks designers who beat the odds Part 3: A day in the life a 30 Weeks designer Part 4: Some free advice
30 Weeks transforms designers into founders who are equipped with the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and tech know-how to create products and start impactful companies.
What is 30 Weeks?
30 Weeks transforms designers into founders who are equipped with the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and tech know-how to create products and start impactful companies.
We not only teach designers how to launch and build businesses, but we also provide the hands-on experience, mentorship, workspace, and connections to the communities they will need to thrive and grow into successful entrepreneurs.
30 Weeks transforms designers into founders who are equipped with the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and tech know-how to create products and start impactful companies.
What do we do?
30 Weeks transforms designers into founders who are equipped with the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and tech know-how to create products and start impactful companies.
We integrate startup principles, practices, and experience-based learning methodologies in a
collaborative environment.
30 Weeks transforms designers into founders who are equipped with the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and tech know-how to create products and start impactful companies.
How do we do it?
30 Weeks is divided into two sessions. In the first 15 weeks the designers go through a carefully-crafted
curriculum covering product development, business models, legal structures, branding, and storytelling.
The second 15 weeks are dedicated to building.
30 Weeks transforms designers into founders who are equipped with the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and tech know-how to create products and start impactful companies.
Who was the program designed for?
Designers with great product ideas that solve real problems and have the potential of
being financially sustainable businesses.
Snapshot: Program Enrollment Statistics:
Number of classes: 3 (2014–2016)Number of designers: 54Diversity breakdown: 22 Countries
Gender breakdown: M/F, 60/40 Number of products built: 24
Program Wins
• $4,000,000+ raised by designers from our
program at a combined valuation $15M.
• Media/social media impressions: 1,000,000+
• Post 30 Weeks, designers were accepted to top accelerators and incubators such as:
Venture for America, Mass Challenge, Highway1, HAX Boost, and the Brooklyn FoodWorks Accelerator
• Designers who returned to the workforce were hired by Google, Google Venture portfolio companies, and leading NY startups.
Slang (Stephen Varady: Class 1)
Slang is the ultimate online sneaker marketplace.
• 3,000 unique sellers have uploaded over 10,000 sneakers• Raised pre-seed $635k; T5 Capital, Michael Lazaro, Metamorphic Ventures• GMV $1.2M• Currently raising seed: $1.5M at $6M valuation
Treble (Matt Bond, Justin Budlow + Zak Kantor Class 2)
A connection and networking platform for musicians. (app + website)
• Raised pre-seed $120k• Successful beta test of iOS app• Launched ‘Treble Live’ event series
in New York City
TuckrBox (Meg Carreau Class 3)
A farm-to-lunchbox meal delivery service for kids.(App + website)
• Winner of New York App Idea Awards, $70,000 prize for design and development
• Accepted to Brooklyn FoodWorks Kitchen incubator program
• Accepted to Camp Campbell, an exclusive group of female food entrepreneurs
30 Weeks transforms designers into founders who are equipped with the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and tech know-how to create products and start impactful companies.
The Goal of The ProgramTo guide the designers through the process of business building so that when they leave the
program they are investment ready.
What is a business?
Business is “the practice of making one's living by engaging in commerce.”
30 Weeks transforms designers into founders who are equipped with the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and tech know-how to create products and start impactful companies.
So what’s a startup?
“A startup is an organization formed to search for a repeatable and scalable business model. A business model describes how your company creates, delivers and captures value.
Or in English: A business model describes how your company makes money.” —Steve Blank
Case Studies.
I have amazing idea for a business!
The Problem: Frogs are dying in swimming pools.
My Solution: The Froggy Float
The Frog Log
Should I stay or should I go? How many households have swimming pools? Around the world?
What’s the median income of pool owners?
What are the distribution channels?
What’s the price point and how many do you expect to sell each year?
How much do you love frogs?
Back on the horse. My other amazing idea.
The Problem: Carrot peelers have short handles
My Solution: Peel-O-Trac
30 Weeks transforms designers into founders who are equipped with the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge and tech know-how to create products and start impactful companies.
Two designers who beat the odds.
Joe Hollier New York 2012 Valedictorian of SVA Light Phone
Kaiwei Tang Taipei, Taiwan
Institute of Design IIT Before 30W
Manager Foxconn Electronics
The Light Phone is your phone away from phone.
The Light Phone
• Raised $450,000 on Kickstarter• Preorders = 6,000 from Kickstarter• Graduated from HAX Boost Accelerator • Raised $3.3M in VC funding from Foxconn
and others VC companies ($8M Cap)
• October 5: delivery of first batch of phones
So, how did Joe and Kai do it? Idea Initial Research Prototype Test the Market Create the Product Legal + Money Market the Product Sell The Product Ship The Product
Our Methdology: Ideate. Validate. Iterate. Repeat
Idea.
Initial Research.
Program Module: Ideate
Residents: Geoffrey Schwartz + Kevin Rogers, frog design
Design ThinkingPersonas
Opportunity Identification User Stories
Market SizingRapid Prototyping
Tangible outcomes: methodologies and tools for ideation and identifying a value proposition
Prototype.
Test the market.
Program Module: Validate
Resident: Jen van der Meer, CEO Reason Street
Problem - Solution FitProduct - Market Fit
Develop key assumptions and validate through customer research Uncover key pain points and get to the unspoken customer need
Learn how to pivot towards a real customer pain point Quantitatively size a market (TAM, SAM)
Find a specific niche target market
Tangible outcomes: completed business model canvas
Back to the drawing board.
Program Module: Iterate
Resident: James Cooper, betaworks
Prototyping + Testing Market + Growth hacking
Data AnalysisPivoting
Tangible outcome: getting to a minimum viable product
Build your product.
Choose a legal structure and figure out how you will make money.
Learn how to pitch.
Program Modules
Resident: Michoel Ogince, Windforce Ventures
Business Models: Consumer + EnterpriseLegal Structures + Issues
Funding: Kickstarter, Angel, VC’s Financial ModelingRevenue Streams
Tangible Outcomes: a pitch deck
Market the product.
Program Modules
Resident: Matthew Waldman, Nooka
Corporate IdentityBrand Strategy
Branding Storytelling
Tangible outcomes: a logo, identity and startup story
Sell & Ship The Product
A day in the life of a 30 weeks designer.
Game-changing products start with great ideas that solve real problems. But businesses aren’t built on ideas alone. What keeps a company in business is a product or a service that people want and will purchase over and over again.
Advice #1: Design and build products that matter.
How To Avoid Avoidable Disasters.
Writings from the 30 Weeks wall.
Free advice. • Learn as much as you can about how businesses work before you launch your startup.
• Save at least 6 months (better 12) of living expenses before you leave your job.
• Talk to as many startup entrepreneurs as you can – especially the ones who have “failed.”
• Hire a lawyer and an accountant.