WKI Ideation

The Problem with Customer Discovery

The Problem with Customer Discovery

The Problem with Customer Discovery Don't get me wrong....customer discovery is a valuable process for founders....but only if it's done right.  

Mentoring by Design

Mentoring by Design

In recognition of National Mentoring Month, I would like to acknowledge the important work being done by our WKI Certified Coaches who dedicate themselves to mentoring and coaching innovators to navigate the path forward to turn their idea into a business with...

Turning Innovators into Founders

Turning Innovators into Founders

First, let me give credit for the title of this post — our customer, Tech Fort Worth, uses this as its mantra. I think it’s a powerful statement. It captures the work we do to help people with ideas turn those ideas into business value, and throughout this process,...

Learning How The Game Is Played

Learning How The Game Is Played

As founders start out on their journey, there’s a lot of balls to juggle for sure.  Customers, product, competitive differentiator, access to capital, and the list continues.  An important one that doesn’t get talked about enough is the Path to Market - how will you...

A Defining Moment for Startups:  So What’s the Problem?

A Defining Moment for Startups: So What’s the Problem?

When I reflect back to my tech startup days when we were on the napkin and starting out, I am reminded (and sometimes a little haunted LOL) by our inability to articulate the business problem we were proposing to solve. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the...

No Market Need?!

No Market Need?!

I have seen multiple reports claiming that something like over 40% of startups fail because they offer something the market doesn’t need.  As I dug into the data, I think it should be interpreted more as 40% of the failures can be attributed to not meeting a market...

Tech Fort Worth – A Showcase Site for WKI Ideation

Tech Fort Worth – A Showcase Site for WKI Ideation

Fifteen years ago as I was finishing my first book introducing the So what? Who cares? why you? methodology, I was fortunate to meet Tech Fort Worth.  They were launching a new entrepreneurial incubator in Fort Worth, Texas and we became fast friends and partners,...

Want to Ignite Your Idea Engine? It Starts with a Cocktail Napkin…

Want to Ignite Your Idea Engine? It Starts with a Cocktail Napkin…

Welcome back everyone! Ahhh… September – can’t you just feel the energy as we rev our engines back up for the fall? I love these days when everyone is kicking it up into high gear. There’s a buzz and enthusiasm in the air that’s infectious. Many of our WKI Certified...

Step-by-Step Tool Guidance

Step-by-Step Tool Guidance

The heart of the So what? who cares? why you? methodology has always been the visual tools. In this second edition, you’ll continue to see the same rich visual tools but with a refreshed and revitalized personality. We’ve trimmed down the toolset to focus on 14 visual...