Entrepreneurship & Digital Business · Beginner level

Beginner level · Module 1 of 5 · 10 guided hours

Business Startup Fundamentals

Find a problem worth solving, test the idea cheaply and estimate what it costs to start.

Learning objectives

  • Generate ideas from real customer problems
  • Test an idea with potential customers before spending
  • Estimate start-up costs

Topics

  • problem-first thinking
  • idea generation
  • customer interviews
  • simple tests
  • start-up costs
  • contingency

Lessons

  1. Lesson 1 Problem-First Thinking

    Start from problems people have, not from products you like.

    customer problempain and frequencywillingness to payidea list

  2. Lesson 2 Testing an Idea Cheaply

    Find out whether people want the idea before spending money.

    customer interviewsleading questionspre-ordersevidence

  3. Lesson 3 Estimating Start-Up Costs

    Work out how much money is needed to open.

    equipmentfirst stocklicences and feescontingency

Practical activity

Interview ten potential customers about a problem, run one simple demand test and estimate start-up costs.

Expected outcomes

  • Ideas grounded in customer evidence
  • Realistic start-up budgets

Assessment

Interview summary, test result and cost estimate reviewed.

Free taster lesson Business Startup Fundamentals Read a free self-study lesson on this topic in the Free Course Library.

Taught live by an instructor — online or in person. Free course lessons are for self-study and do not lead to a certificate — see registration options.