BASE • THNK • PLAY • DEMO • MAKE • SHIP
We designed a workshop series based on the six areas above that comprised StartSup's support services. These are the areas we cover and use for collaborative inquiry. Any questions yet?
BASE
BASE is about laying a good foundation, and about the basic services you need to base your enterprise on: legal services, accounting, financials and the form of your company. This is getting your team together -- or advisors if you're solo -- and knowing where your funding might likely come from. This is also a good space to consider -- if not nail down -- your branding and identity.
THNK
What's missing in "THNK"? I. This means get the 'I' out of your thnkng... collaborate! Get out of your silo and get creative. This is time and space to scribble, doodle, ideate, brainstorm, dream and innovate. This is also the space to consider who your collaborators are, or find some, and who all the stakeholders are affecting your business.
PLAY
Playing isn't just for kids, it's an important element in the startup arena. We think (thnk) you need to play and goof off a little to keep sane. PLAY includes sketching, iterating, testing, trying things out from the THNK exercises and learning from each other. PLAY with new ideas from all the areas here. Play is the last part of your "liquid" stage, where you splash in the water and start to figure out how things flow.
Take a moment, make sure you're still breathing normally, relax, meditate... do some yoga... because now it's time to get in, sit down, buckle up, shut up and hang on. (What movie was that?)
DEMO
What we mean by DEMO includes "demo" software or getting your MVP done; it means drawings, prototypes, an alpha website, and figuring out what exactly you're going to MAKE, and how you're going to MAKE it! The DEMO area also includes sourcing, materials and your supply chain. This is the time to get your social network in order, firm up your branding and messaging.
MAKE
At some point, you've got to make something! The MAKE area means manufacturing products, building things and/or making stuff. If you don't MAKE something, you can't SHIP it. If you're making stuff, you'd better have your social marketing in full force and your message on point. And as you're watching product QA, revisit the previous four areas to stay innovative.
SHIP
When you ship, you make money. Period. All the above areas involve the work you do to get to the Shipping Point: the exchange of goods and services for money (or something of value). The SHIP arena also includes distribution, channels and delivery services. As you SHIP and MAKE (money), keep your BASE in order, THNK and iterate and PLAY with new ideas, create a new DEMO and add to your line!
BASE
BASE is about laying a good foundation, and about the basic services you need to base your enterprise on: legal services, accounting, financials and the form of your company. This is getting your team together -- or advisors if you're solo -- and knowing where your funding might likely come from. This is also a good space to consider -- if not nail down -- your branding and identity.
THNK
What's missing in "THNK"? I. This means get the 'I' out of your thnkng... collaborate! Get out of your silo and get creative. This is time and space to scribble, doodle, ideate, brainstorm, dream and innovate. This is also the space to consider who your collaborators are, or find some, and who all the stakeholders are affecting your business.
PLAY
Playing isn't just for kids, it's an important element in the startup arena. We think (thnk) you need to play and goof off a little to keep sane. PLAY includes sketching, iterating, testing, trying things out from the THNK exercises and learning from each other. PLAY with new ideas from all the areas here. Play is the last part of your "liquid" stage, where you splash in the water and start to figure out how things flow.
Take a moment, make sure you're still breathing normally, relax, meditate... do some yoga... because now it's time to get in, sit down, buckle up, shut up and hang on. (What movie was that?)
DEMO
What we mean by DEMO includes "demo" software or getting your MVP done; it means drawings, prototypes, an alpha website, and figuring out what exactly you're going to MAKE, and how you're going to MAKE it! The DEMO area also includes sourcing, materials and your supply chain. This is the time to get your social network in order, firm up your branding and messaging.
MAKE
At some point, you've got to make something! The MAKE area means manufacturing products, building things and/or making stuff. If you don't MAKE something, you can't SHIP it. If you're making stuff, you'd better have your social marketing in full force and your message on point. And as you're watching product QA, revisit the previous four areas to stay innovative.
SHIP
When you ship, you make money. Period. All the above areas involve the work you do to get to the Shipping Point: the exchange of goods and services for money (or something of value). The SHIP arena also includes distribution, channels and delivery services. As you SHIP and MAKE (money), keep your BASE in order, THNK and iterate and PLAY with new ideas, create a new DEMO and add to your line!
Keep in mind that working through these areas is somewhat linear, but many things can and will happen concurrently, and you can use the ideas in any area at any time. Stay tuned! Contact us if you want to get on our mailing list for our workshop series.