When nobody runs, start walking.
It is no secret that I am a very strong believer in workshops. Especially in our region where the entrepreneurship and startup scene is sold as cool but with a very poor performance. The Stockholm Syndrome has never been more present. The Angel networks invest in whatever, with ticket sizes they spend in a weekend in Bodrum with friends. There are some exceptions, but too little to mention. Ajinomoto, Japan, has bought an additional 50% stake in the Turkish food company Kükre for $51.7 million in August of this year. In the first 9 months of 2017, $57 million was invested in 91 rounds in startups, based in Turkiye (see Startup.watch). Go figure.
We have done a record number of Startup Weekends, Hackathons and workshops and as I said many times before, there is talent. But too young and inexperienced. Even Business Canvas is too difficult and as such that is understandable.
The result is that, despite all the existing Canvases, we will start to introduce our own, Ideathon Canvas. An Ideathon is a hybrid model between a hackathon and a Startup Weekend. The focus is on the Problem Statement and the potential customer. We see too much focus on the idea and when you ask the simple question “what problem do you solve?” the answer is a couple of confused eyes and a mouth that doesn’t open. Ideathon can be 6 hours to a full weekend, ending in a pitch that is based on a fixed format of 5 slides. The pitch slides have all a title and explain what should be on each slide. We will test the first version at the Ideathon with Sportup and sponsored by Istanbul Spor. Expect some updates but we are convinced that we need to adapt towards our audience in order to help them grow successful projects, as an entrepreneur or startup. Wish us luck :-).
Change is a constant part of our life. As we resist it a lot, we have long adaption cycles. It is not the technology but people that decide the slow evolution of the implementation. In my search for an appropriate song, I stumbled upon Michael Jackson. Although I was never a big fan, when I watched the video clip my eyes caught some water. “Man In The Mirror” was released in 1988 and I love the lyrics. Look in the mirror is what my mother said to me when I was young and talking foolishness about others. It helped. Enjoy the song here and watch the clip.
Kolay Gelsin,
Patrick Bosteels
patrick@stage-co.com
