On May 29th, One World Innovations was invited back to Rev for their next entrepreneurial workshop: Concept to Company. C2C is a bit more exclusive than previous workshops, and they pre-screen applicants to make sure everyone is on the same page and serious about moving their business idea to the next level. C2C is also spread out over three night sessions, with homework in between. The focus of C2C is on iterating deeper into the business model canvas. The homework is about validating assumptions -- in other words, talking to people.

This was exciting advice. I mean, OK, did they really think we hadn't already been talking to people? Here's what they actually mean:

  • Don't talk to friends and family. Talk to strangers.
  • Don't tell people what your doing, but rather, have a conversation with them about their needs and wants.
  • Direct this discussion towards the vague area of your business idea, and hope they complain about whatever pain point your idea is trying to tackle.
  • Try to get at what they'd be willing to pay to have their problem solved, and hope this is more than what it costs to provide your solution.
  • Iterate on your business model canvas as you learn from potential clients.
The value proposition canvas, from Osterwalder, Pigneur, Bernarda, and Smith's "Value Proposition Design". In this framework, a consumer hires a product to do a job. For what job would you hire a global network of Make-It Homes?

The value proposition canvas, from Osterwalder, Pigneur, Bernarda, and Smith's "Value Proposition Design". In this framework, a consumer hires a product to do a job. For what job would you hire a global network of Make-It Homes?

I decided Rev should be One World Innovations first partner. But then I went to Europe for a month... to Holland, France, Scotland, and Iceland. I asked a lot of people a lot of questions, to varying degrees of success. I almost got blown off a mountain.