Have a Startup Idea?

Let us help you make it real, right at your fingertips.

Start your success now with our free Startup Ideation Canvas

Scroll Down to read our guide on how to use Startup this Ideation Canvas

What is an Startup Ideation Canvas?

A Startup Ideation Canvas is a way of organizing information. It is one of the most common tools every startup founder, accelerator or investor uses.

At its core, it’s a way of putting information front and center and assess its usefulness. It includes but is not limited to questions like:

A 30 second pitch of your idea/Your idea in less than 10 words.

For example, a Streaming service that focuses on media and content by a particular community can be pitched as

“Netflix for documentries and inspirational innovative stories made by African creators”

It distills the scope and appeal of your Startup idea for audiences as well as future partners and investors.  

Using it is as simple as giving clear, honest answers to the questions on the canvas.  

Here’s you’ll find our Free Startup Ideation Canvas, a free tool we have built for Founders like you. We’ve distilled the most important questions we have asked 40+ Founders across multiple industries before we helped them launch projects that were ideas given form. 

Benefits of assessing your startup Idea:
  1. How to Present your idea?
    Ideation gives you the opportunity to review how your idea sounds. What is your Unique Selling Point (USP)? To a new listener, does it sound easy to use? Is it immediately useful? Does it solve a problem with minimal effort?
    Does it have a clear appeal to the core audience? These are some of the questions we answer pro-bono, for you, from day one.
  1. Is this the right Market for my idea?
    When you analyze your answers to an ideation canvas like ours, you get to recheck your strengths. Is this the right audience for my idea? Am I focusing on the right solution for the wrong people? What kind of people can be my early adapters?

    Our Ideation guidance follows the same flow of information as you see on the Canvas. It is a method by which we have helped 40+ Startups and helped Founders find their best and most actionable strengths.

  1. Am I ready for my Startup idea? 
    The answers prepare you to ask if you have everything you need on hand for launch? Can you build the idea into a demonstration? A presentation? Or a prototype?
  1. Is my idea simple to launch or do I need help?
    One of the biggest assets for any founder is a co-founder or a team that is motivated and clear. Be it the idea, your goals for the startup or deciding the next steps. Knowing whether you are self-sufficient or do you need a team/partner(s) is key to great start.
  1. Where is my idea most accessible?
    Are you looking for a brick-and-mortar Startup idea? Or is your idea capable of growth through the digital? Does it need both? Sometimes an idea can begin on digital and grow to a physical location presence. Sometimes, it’s the other way around.

Before you Begin

One of the most important documents you need to start is an Idea Validation Canvas like this one.

While no one tool/software caters to everything, a canvas gives you the basic idea of the questions. There is no need for an exhaustive survey of 50+ questions. Keep it simple and short. The questions should focus on the applicability of the idea as a Startup venture.

So, get ready to test your idea!

What are the most important learnings from an Ideation Canvas?
  1. The scope of your idea
    Is your idea applicable to a specific geographic region? Or is it specific to a particular technology or device? Is your idea capable of growing beyond its immediate scope?  What is the scalability potential? Is the scalability exponential (can you jump successfully into a big change without using up a lot of resources?) or is it linear (you have the resources for next stage of your success but not more)?

Siya-Ideation-Canvas-What-image

  1. The precursors of your idea

Is your idea a solution that is better than an existing solution? Are you doing something old in a new way? Or is it an entire new idea? Something that has never been done before? Who did it before you? Where are they today?

Siya-Ideation-Canvas-why-image

  1. The Audience of your idea

As we mentioned above, who you talk with and talk to is as important as what you talk about. What is your target customer? How are you planning to invite them?

How many are there? How will you find the first 10 people to try your idea? The first 100/1000/10000?

What rewards and benefits do they enjoy for being early adopters of your idea?

  1. The Journey of your Idea

What is your core team like? Who are they? What are their roles in the journey from Ideation to Launch? Do you have an advisor who can course correct? A mentor who can plan and strategize with you? What are the key gaps and challenges?

Along with the team, you also need to start thinking about long term. What are your milestones? What does your ideation lead to in 6 months? 1 year? Three years from now? How do you know you made it? What is the definition of success for your idea? What are the metrics that tell you how fast or slow did you reach the milestones?

The answers to these questions give you clarity about your idea. They confirm your strengths (you’re ready and skilled to create a demo or a web prototype).

They also highlight your weakness (you need a team to create a prototype because you’re not a developer).

The Siya Startup Ideation Canvas puts your USP vs your Goals in the context of your target market and audience.

So, you can compare whether what your idea offers is helpful and adaptable or needs work.

 

The Siya Startup Ideation Canvas puts your USP vs your Goals in the context of your target market and audience.

So, you can compare whether what your idea offers is helpful and adaptable or needs work.

 
Need more help?
Don't hesitate. Drop a line!
Connect With Siya