Lean Launch and Lean Pivot

What is the Lean LaunchPad?

Pfeil rechts oben gruen.svgCreated by Steve Blank, the Lean LaunchPad rests on the insight that a startup is a different kind of business from an established one. The business development methodology a startup needs is a completely different animal from the processes that lead to continued success for a going concern. 

The Lean LauchPad teaches that a startup is a process of discovery about the products, the markets, the customers, the tools, the processes, and the team that a business need to develop to become a success. It emphasizes agility, flexibility, and above all, the need to get out of the building and talk to people.  

What do we mean by “lean pivot”? 

Hungary road sign D-007.svgWe’ve run a series of courses over the last year or so. One of the things we noticed is that already established businesses can profit from LLP as much as startups. The key idea is the pivot. When a business learns that one or more of its core ideas just doesn’t fit the reality of the world they’re trying to operate in, it’s time for a pivot. In traditional business development, this would be deemed to be somewhere between a problem and a disaster. In the new reality of startups and agile businesses, the pivot is the thing that keeps the enterprise alive and growing. Established businesses need to learn to execute the Lean Pivot, because the world they operate in is sure to change, and they will be overwhelmed if they don’t learn how to adapt.

The InCommN Lean Launch and Lean Pivot Course

A twelve-week course in the Lean LaunchPad for startups and going concerns. Work alongside passionate founders, guided by veteran entrepreneurs and investors, to accelerate sales and investor interest.

Here’s what you or your team gain from the course:

dollar

  • a detailed, actionable model built with the Business Model Canvas
  • a higher chance of success
  • speed, efficiency, and sureness in execution
  • accountability to an engaged peer-group
  • personal attention from veteran teachers
  • valuable social capital and connections

What’s Next?

Click to request information about the Lean LaunchPad training.

Angela is Back

Idea Killeritis

Angela Lussier“You know the feeling.

“You’re sitting in traffic watching your life go by while studying the bumper of the car in front of you. You start daydreaming.

“You wonder why flying cars don’t exist yet. You wonder why we still haven’t figured out the answer to highway congestion, and then, as you watch a mom with a van full of kids flip off a teenager who cut her off….you’ve got it!…

“I invite you to a free webinar I’m hosting with Sa.am this Wednesday, August 27th from 12-1pm EST.”

More information and online registration.

Easthampton co.lab Meeting August 5th

“Some of you couldn’t attend our last open house and requested info, some of you wanted to stay in the loop on our progress, some of you were recommended by someone else who might be interested in what we’re up to at the co.lab. Here’s the deal: “We’re starting a new Incubator/ Co-work space called the co.lab that’s being developed in Easthampton. Our first open house was so great, we’re having another one.

“We wanted to invite you to come and see our space in Eastworks, learn more about our mission and membership model, meet other potential members and ask any questions about next steps. It’s all happening on Tuesday August 5th at 7:00 PM.

“Please RSVP whether you can or cannot make it! If you want info but can’t make it, there’s a place to fill out that info.

“Here’s a brief overview of what we’re up to:

*what we’re doing
>>>Connecting people, place and purpose.

*how we’re doing it
>>> Engaging groups in collaborative and participatory processes to harness the power of creative intelligence.

*why we’re doing it
>>> Enabling people to better understand the value of their ideas, experience and skills in the context of community.

“This is an environment for connectors of all creative capacities to share a unique space where cross-pollination of ideas and work happens organically, while also increasing the visibility of personal and collective projects.

“This is an exciting opportunity and we’re excited to tell you more about it, and see if you are interested in being a member. There’s a lot of ways to be involved.

“Also, if you think of anyone else this would be well suited for, please forward this email to them but please DO NOT share this on any social networking sites. Thanks!

“Tuesday August 5th
7:00 PM
Eastworks
116 Pleasant St. Suite #301 Easthampton, MA 01027

“Please RSVP whether you can or cannot make it! If you want info but can make it, there’s a place to fill out that info. Thanks! Sita Magnuson and Seth Lepore”

SPARK Seeks Executive Director

Please Share with your networks:

The Greater Holyoke Chamber Centennial Foundation is now seeking an organized, goal-oriented professional to fill the position of Executive Director who will oversee the SPARK (Stimulating Potential, Accessing Resource Knowledge) Entrepreneurial Education Program for Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Continue reading “SPARK Seeks Executive Director”

I Don’t Know What’s Going to Happen Next

“One of the things I like about jazz, kid, is I don’t know what’s going to happen next. Do you?”

—Bix Beiderbecke, American musician, born March 10, 1903


Bix Beiderbecke cropped

Click on the picture of Bix Beiderbecke to hear “Singin’the Blues.” The sax player is Frankie Trumbauer, who could blow a little himself. Beiderbecke looks like he’s about 12 in this photo.

Okay, entrepreneurs: here are ten technologies about to make the jump from “geewhiz” to “coming soon.” These are opportunities for innovators, investors, and cool, geeky start ups, and will bring enormous, society-wide change in the next couple of decades.

Speaking of geeky start ups, don’t miss Valley Venture Mentors graduation bash Wednesday, March 12 in Springfield. This has been an outstandingly successful session for VVM, and we’re pleased to celebrate the accomplishments of a great class of entrepreneurs.

I have two Macs, an iPhone 5, and an iPad Air. Up to now, I haven’t integrated Siri into my workflow. I’m experimenting right now with using Siri for dictation (it works really well). If you’ve got an iPhone and/or iPad, read this article and try out some of the tips for using Siri in your day-to-day work (and leisure). 

Jef Raskin’s comparison of using computers to wearing exploding shoes is still apt, even though things have improved in the last few years. 


Tomorrow in #westernma

TUESDAY MARCH 11
8:00AM Agawam MarketRight
5:00–8:00PM Springfield Build Your Own Betty
6:00–8:30PM Greenfield Creating Your Own Business in Quickbooks
6:00–8:00PM Turners Falls Plug Into the Creative Valley
6:30PM Indian Orchard The Geek Group of Western Mass

Reading

Ten Breakthrought New Technologies You Should Watch in 2014

“The World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Emerging Technologies identifies recent key trends in technological change in its annual list of Top 10 Emerging Technologies. By highlighting the most important technological breakthroughs, the Council aims to raise awareness of their potential and contribute to closing gaps in investment, regulation and public understanding. For 2014, the Council identified ten new technologies that could reshape our society in the future.”

10 Technological Breakthroughs Of 2014


Ultimate Siri Guide
“The great thing about Siri is that it doesn’t require you to look at your device’s screen in order to interface with it. And Siri is smart enough to consider your location along with the context of your commands and conversations. By doing so, Siri can respond intelligently to your requests.

“Inside, we’ll teach you some of the history of Siri and show you some of its basic usage features. We’ll then present to you with an exhaustive list of voice commands, and discuss Siri’s dictation features. ”

iOS 7: The ultimate Siri guide


The Last Word

“Imagine if every Thursday your shoes exploded if you tied them the usual way. This happens to us all the time with computers, and nobody thinks of complaining.”

—Jef Raskin, American scientist, born March 9, 1943


 

Breaking the Car Habit

“Art is our chief means of breaking bread with the dead.”

—W. H. Auden, English poet, born February 21, 1907


320px-Potato-ChipsWhen you’re trying to break a habit, it’s very useful to build a sort of “scaffolding” to support you in avoiding the bad habit and sticking with the new one. For example, if you want to lose weight, it helps to replace high calories snakes with fruit and vegetables, because when you would go for the bad stuff there isn’t any around. Have a handful of carrots instead.

Continue reading “Breaking the Car Habit”

Parks and Recreation

“I think that every sexual position is fundamentally comic.”

—Judith Butler, American philosopher, born February 24, 1956


640px-East South East View Mt Sugarloaf South Deerfield MAWhen people study why entrpreneurs choose to build their businesses where they do, they find that their reasons have little to do with the things that politicians and economists go on and on about: tax rates and regulations. Nope: the questions they ask are whether a city is a nice place to live, whether it’s a good place to raise a family, if young people want to move there, and whether they’ll find other people like them there. These factors are certainly strong points about the Pioneer Valley, towns and cities that want to grow should keep them in mind in their plans. Yeah, I’m looking at you Greenfield, Holyoke and Springfield.  

Continue reading “Parks and Recreation”

The Networking Animal

“Don’t lie if you don’t have to.”

—Leo Szilard, American scientist, born February 11, 1898


I got a nice note from somebody about to graduate from Marlboro College Graduate Center with an MBA in Managing for Sustainability. He’s job-hunting, and also asked for advice on how to get started as a consultant. Here’s how I responded:

Apropos of getting started, it’s tough out there: if you have the (financial) ability, I might suggest doing some pro bono work for non-profits in the particular area you’re interested in, get some experience and results, and network like hell. LinkedIn is a great way to grow your professional network, but by all means get out there and meet people in the flesh as well as online. Consulting is a relationship business, and you need to get your name and reputation in front of as many people as possible.

All business is relationship business. Willy-nilly, we are animals who operate in social networks. Improving your connectivity may be the most important thing you can do to “grow your business”, assuming you have integrity and interesting skills to offer. That’s why InCommN is so committed to curating and publishing our business calendar: we want everyone in the community to find opportunities to learn and grow, and we put our money where our mouth is to provide the information.

By the way, don’t forget DELA in Holyoke this Wednesday. Also this Wednesday evening is Valley Venture Mentors’ Monthly Meeting. There: two great ways to get more involved in the Western New England business community, make some new friends, and show the world what you’ve got to offer.

The more we learn about what’s going on in Holyoke, the more excited we are about being part of the next chapter in the city’s history.

Love him or hate him: Ray Kurzweil has some cred when it comes to the future.

Have you read this week’s News From InCommN? If you subscribe, it hits your inbox every Friday at 1:30PM, right around the time you’ll be looking for anything to think about besides work. People say it’s informative and fun to read and look at.

Edison was right: if the only reason you’re doing work is for the money, you’re missing out on the best parts.


Today and Tomorrow in #westernma

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11
8:00AM Agawam MarketRight
5:00-7:00PM East Longmeadow Professional Women’s Chamber of Western Massachusetts Free Networking Event
6:00-8:00PM Westfield Plug Into the Creative Valley
6:30-8:30PM Agawam Advanced Quickbooks Workshop
6:30PM Indian Orchard The Geek Group of Western Mass
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12
7:15-9:00AM Hadley Amherst Chamber of Commerce Breakfast
11:30AM-1:00PM West Springfield Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield Lunch and Learn
5:00-7:00PM Northampton Northampton Chamber Arrive at 5
5:00-7:00PM Westfield Westfield Chamber After 5 Connection
5:15-7:30PM Springfield Valley Venture Mentors
6:00-7:30PM Shelburne Falls What You DON’T Know About Your Business (And How to find It!)

Reading

Holyoke Rising

“Two properties on Appleton Street were readied for marketing. Funding came through to convert the old Holyoke Catholic High School to apartments. Veterans Park was renovated.

Work should begin this year on a passenger-train platform and at least three new businesses plan to open on High Street.

Pieces of the economic development puzzle here are materializing into form, however slowly, officials say.

‘Things have been happening in Holyoke for a long time, but 2014 is poised to be the year that people see it, feel it, and become a part of it. Holyoke is rising, and 2014 will be a year to remember,’ Mayor Alex B. Morse said.”

Holyoke highlights economic development efforts in 2013, plans for 2014

Ray Kurzweil Places His Bets

“2017: Self-driving cars…2018: Personal assistant search engines…2020: Switch off our fat cells…2033: 100 per cent of our energy from solar…2040: Stay young for ever….”

Ray Kurzweil—How the World Will Change


The Last Word

“One might think that the money value of an invention constitutes its reward to the man who loves his work. But… I continue to find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.”

—Thomas A. Edison, American inventor, born February 11, 1847


 

Lolita and Dr Zhivago in Sochi

“They don’t ask much of you. They only want you to hate the things you love and to love the things you despise.”

—Boris Pasternak, Russian novelist, born February 10, 1890


putinWe really tried, but we just couldn’t live with DELA. I’m sorry to report that, for the most part, Rick F and Rick P have been reduced to eating at their desks. I appear to have reverted to middle-school geekdom, shunned by the Kool Kidz in the cafeteria. (Kidding. I think.)

Solution: the all-new, Don’t Eat Lunch Alone: Industrial Strength, hosted at Universal Quality Machine in Holyoke. The first meeting is this Wednesday, February 12 from 12:00–1:30PM. This is a no-food-available location, so bring your lunch. Come prepared to talk about manufacturing, in addition to the usual DELA mixture of matter and mishegoss. We’re interested in getting to know everybody in Holyoke who are doing interesting things and people in manufacturing and engineering from anywhere in Western New England. Please pass on the invitation to your networks.

We’re pleased to see improvements to air travel options in the region. Having Worcester come on line with commercial flights is great for Central Massachusetts. International flights may come to Bradley next year. Now if we could connect the trains with the planes…

A story about a web developer who stopped charging for his work and started asking people to give him a gift they considered equal in value in return. Most people give him gift of cash, which is reasonable if you consider how people prefer gift cards to lame attempts at finding something they’d like. For freelancers who struggle with pricing, this is an interesting article. (The picture shows a potlatch, which you should read the Wikipedia article about and think about in the context of money and social values.)

Boris Pasternak, author of “Doctor Zhivago,” (probably not a favorite of President Putin’s) was alluded to in Sochi’s Impenetrable, Utterly Russian Opening Ceremony, as was Vladimir Nabokov, author of “Lolita,” who was an émigré from Russia, and might have had a few acerbic comments to make about the ham-fisted propaganda on display.

See you at DELA:IS on Wednesday!


Today and Tomorrow in #westernma

MONDAY FEBRUARY 10
8:00-9:00AM Westfield Westfield Chamber Mayor’s Coffee Hour
7:00PM Easthampton Nerd Nite 4
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11
8:00AM Agawam MarketRight
5:00-7:00PM East Longmeadow Professional Women’s Chamber of Western Massachusetts Free Networking Event
6:00-8:00PM Westfield Plug Into the Creative Valley
6:30-8:30PM Agawam Advanced Quickbooks Workshop
6:30PM Indian Orchard The Geek Group of Western Mass

Reading

Regional Air Transportation Infrastructure News

“From Bradley International Airport in Connecticut to Worcester Regional Airport in Massachusetts, people who live, work or play in western New England have more options than ever when it comes to flying the friendly skies.

“In 2013, the regional airports saw a number of new direct flights making it easier for people to reach their destinations without traveling to New York or Boston’s busy Logan International Airport.”

Western New England Air Travel Options Improving

I Forgot to Ask For the Gifts

potlatch-ceremony“…This, of course, can be an inconvenient realization for an adult with a family. But Hoppel had given it a lot of thought, and decided to make a specific sort of change: he stopped charging money for his work, and instead began to operate within the ‘gift economy.’”

This Guy Stopped Charging Clients And He Has Zero Regrets


The Last Word

“No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand.”

—Bertolt Brecht, German poet, born February 10, 1898