How Fast Do You Want Your Startup to Grow?

Growth Team

Do you have a great idea you want to implement? Is there an app you want to build? The road from idea to viable product isn’t always straightforward. There are often a lot of twists, turns, and alternative paths out there. In this City University session, Josh and Kyle introduce the City Innovations Growth Team […]

Do you have the right team members? The Product-People Spectrum can help.

Product-People Spectrum

When starting a business venture, you have to have the right people on your team to succeed. But how do you know what kind of person you need? And when do you need them? Luckily, the Product-People Spectrum can help answer these questions. In this City University session, Josh and Kyle expand on the “Product-People […]

The Secret to Startup Success? Implement a Lean Startup Methodology.

Lean Startup Methodology

Starting a business venture can be complex — and quite honestly, scary. About 90% of startups fail, and 10% of startups fail within the first year, according to Forbes. Those statistics are bleak, but they don’t have to be. In this City University session, Josh and Kyle expand on the Lean Startup methodology — what […]

How to Build the Right Thing vs. Building the Thing Right

Building the Right Thing

Launching a company goes beyond “building the thing right.” It’s about “building the right thing.” In this City University session, Kyle and Josh expand on what that means, with tips on how your venture can build the right thing first without wasting time, money, or resources. Read the Recap Are you asking the right questions? […]

The GEM Framework: How to Prioritize What Matters Most to Your Venture

GEM Framework

As ventures grow, product strategy and prioritization can help teams to maintain focus. However, misalignment happens often and can destroy a startup.  According to Gibson Biddle, former vice president of production for Netflix, one of the biggest causes is differing opinions on whether teams should focus on growth, engagement, or monetization.  In this City University […]

Adding Logic to Logistics

Logistics

Taking several different quick fixes and creating a comprehensive “one stop shop” app for employees of a food service distribution company that helped cut costs by over 25%. Client: Food Service Distributor Industry: Food Service Funnel Stage: Envision, Validate, and Bootstrap The Challenge  A large food service distributor had a logistics problem; a BIG logistics […]

Chickens, Eggs, and the Two-Sided Marketplace

Two-Sided Marketplace

You have heard about, and likely used, two-sided marketplaces already. Companies like Visa, eBay, Airbnb, Uber, and Tinder are all two-sided marketplace businesses that have become incredibly successful. And these kinds of marketplace businesses show no signs of diminishing.  According to a Coresight Research report, the income of these kinds of platforms will double by […]

Envision It — 4 Steps to Validating Good Business Ideas

Business Canvas Model

When starting your venture, envisioning your idea is the first step in developing a business. Believe it or not, many founders don’t take the time to think about modeling the potential outcomes first — it’s more fun to build the product right away. However, before jumping in head first, it’s essential to understand what it […]

The Innovation Behind Overcoming Orbital Debris with Kall Morris Inc

There are over 42,000 pieces of space debris orbiting the earth. Unable to perform their original function, this debris poses a risk of colliding with other working objects in orbit and setting off other untrackable cascading collisions. How does one solve this issue? Can anything be done? In this episode of Venture unscripted., Josh Barker, […]

Vitamin vs. Aspirin: What Problem Is Your Venture Solving?

Is your product or service a “vitamin” or an “aspirin?” That is, does your product or service resolve an immediate pain point? Or does it increase performance in a way that may be difficult to see quickly? Essentially, what problem are you solving and how? In this City University session, Josh and Kyle from City […]