Lean Startup and Business Model Canvas 

Business plans are important, especially when clients need financing.  But too often clients get caught in the weeds writing their plans and emerge from the process without having tested their product ideas on real people or understanding their value proposition, revenue streams and more. Lean Startup and Business Model Canvas are accepted worldwide as essential business startup tools that help business owners clear those hurdles.

In this 2-day program you will learn how small business owners can use these tools to test their ideas and plan a strategy for success. We will help you understand how this innovative approach will help clients learn quickly about their revenue, customers and marketing viability, and how to develop a one-page strategic plan - a Business Model Canvas - that helps them evaluate their options and trade-offs. A client's Business Model Canvas and their experience stepping out to their office and testing their ideas with real customers can then help them quickly develop a more traditional business plan for funders that has a higher likelihood of success.

• Become aware of the language and approaches of Lean Startup and Business Model Canvas
• Understand the benefits and risks of a Lean Startup approach in small business
• Understand how to combine these two approaches with traditional business development and funding
• Assess the experience of real small businesses who have used Lean Startup and Business Model Canvas for relevance to your own clients
• Experience creating a Business Model Canvas
• Experience counselling clients through Lean Startup approaches in simulated client meetings

Registration deadline:  December 5, 2016