Business Owners Fear Risk: The Fear Factor
Risk is an ever-present companion. unfortunately, it is clear that business owners fear risk. In business it never leaves your side. Despite its inherent connection to the business landscape, many business owners find themselves gripped by a fear of risk. This fear can be paralysing, stifling innovation, growth, and the…
Guide to Market Assessment for Business Success
In the dynamic world of business, understanding your marketplace is paramount for making informed decisions, seizing opportunities, and maintaining a competitive edge. Whether you're embarking on a new venture, expanding into new markets, or refining your existing strategy, a thorough assessment of your marketplace provides invaluable insights into customer needs,…
Do small and medium firms utilise strategy planning tool products ?
Small to medium-sized firms often purchase strategy planning tools and products to help them effectively develop, implement, and manage their strategic initiatives. While larger enterprises may have dedicated strategy departments or resources, smaller firms can benefit equally from using these tools to; 1. Facilitate Planning Process. Strategy planning tools provide…
Avoiding the Pitfalls: The Biggest Mistakes Businesses Make When Business Planning
Business planning is a crucial process that lays the foundation for success and sustainability in today's competitive landscape. However, despite its importance, many businesses fall into common pitfalls that can undermine their strategic objectives and hinder growth. In this article, we'll explore some of the biggest mistakes businesses make when…
The Power of Planning: Why Business Planning is Essential for Small Businesses
In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, small businesses often find themselves juggling multiple priorities, from managing day-to-day operations to chasing new opportunities for growth. In the midst of this hustle and bustle, the importance of strategic business planning can sometimes be overlooked. However, the truth is that having a well-thought-out…
Introducing Our Book GrowthSprint on Amazon
You can now get hold of our book GrowthSprint On Amazon available on Kindle, Paperback and Hardcover. 'Growth Sprint: : A New Approach to Agile Business Planning' https://amzn.eu/d/bXRPsKD #Amazon GrowthSprint. Agile Business Strategy Innovation Toolkit. Designed and developed with over 30 years of business development, investment and consultancy this toolkit transforms…
Managing Risks in Small Businesses and Startups
Let's look at Managing Risks in Small Businesses. Starting and running a small business or startup is an exhilarating journey filled with opportunities, challenges, and, yes, risks. From financial uncertainties to market fluctuations and everything in between, navigating the risky waters of entrepreneurship requires a keen understanding of the potential…
Why Understanding Customers is Essential in a Startup Environment
In the world of startups, success is often measured by innovation, disruption, and rapid growth. However, amidst the excitement of bringing a new idea to market, one fundamental principle often takes centre stage: understanding your customers. In the startup environment, where resources are limited and risks are high, the importance…
What Makes the GrowthSprint Canvas Unique?
The GrowthSprint Canvas stands out due to several distinctive features that differentiate it from other strategic planning tools: 1. Comprehensive Framework - It covers all critical aspects of business growth, from market analysis to customer relationships, ensuring no element is overlooked. 2. Action-Oriented Approach - Focuses on setting actionable objectives…
Overcoming Unconscious Biases In Investment: The Path to Objective Startup Evaluation
In the fast-paced world of startups, where innovation and potential are the currencies, venture capitalists (VCs), investors, and economic development agencies play a crucial role in identifying and nurturing promising ventures. However, the assessment process is often fraught with challenges, as unconscious biases can cloud our judgment, leading to missed…
How are strategic objectives different from regular business goals?
Strategic objectives and regular business goals are both essential components of a company's planning and operational framework, but they serve different purposes and operate at different levels of specificity and time frames. Here's how they differ: Strategic Objectives 1. Long-term Focus: Strategic objectives are typically long-term in nature, focusing on…
What is a Single Strategic Objective and Why It Matters
In business strategy, clarity and focus are paramount. Companies often juggle multiple goals, but honing in on a single strategic objective (SSO) can be a game-changer. This focused approach can drive significant progress and align efforts across the organisation. But what exactly is a single strategic objective, and why is…
What is GrowthSprint? Discover Our Innovative Framework for Accelerated Growth
The GrowthSprint innovation framework as a powerful, yet practical tool for developing and implementing effective growth strategies across various business scenarios. Introduction and Overview GrowthSprint is an innovation framework designed to help build effective business strategies It’s a comprehensive book with training materials The framework involves using a unique 11-section…
The Origin of the Phrase ‘Growth Strategy’: A Historical Perspective
The phrase "growth strategy" combines two fundamental business concepts: "growth" and "strategy." Here’s a breakdown of the origins and development of this term: 1. Growth The concept of growth in a business context refers to the process of expanding a company's market presence, increasing revenue, scaling operations, and enhancing profitability.…
Understanding the Differences of the GrowthSprint Canvas Over the Business Model Canvas
Both the GrowthSprint Canvas and the Business Model Canvas are valuable tools for business planning, but the GrowthSprint Canvas offers a more comprehensive and dynamic approach, especially suited for businesses aiming for rapid growth and scalability. Business Model Canvas: Building Your Foundation The Business Model Canvas is designed to map…
Be prepared: Competitive analysis is important in business
Competitive analysis is a critical component of strategic planning in business, offering several key benefits that help organizations navigate their market landscape effectively. In understanding your Market it is key to form an up to date competitive analysis: Understanding Market Dynamics Competitive analysis helps businesses understand the broader market dynamics,…
Who purchases licensed business strategy growth consultancy frameworks?
As a licensed training program GrowthSprint offers a comprehensive suite of resources, tools, and support to empower you on your journey to becoming a top-tier consultant. There are numerous benefits that GrowthSprint brings to business consultants and why it’s the premier choice for those seeking to unlock their full potential in…
The Power of Involving an External Expert in Developing Your Business Strategy
In your ever-evolving business landscape, having a robust and well-thought-out strategy is crucial for long-term success. While internal teams often possess deep knowledge of the company's operations, involving an external strategy expert can provide fresh perspectives and specialised expertise that drive transformative results. In this blog post, we explore the…
Business Planning Needs an Agile Approach
Planning has held a foundational role in management for years. Back in the early twentieth century conventional thinking outlined the key functions of managers as planning, organising, commanding, coordinating, and controlling. Throughout the century, the capacity and willingness of managers to plan evolved significantly. Large corporations established specialised units for…
Unveiling The Secret To A Thriving Ecommerce Business
Introduction Ecommerce has become an integral part of modern life, with countless online stores offering a wide range of products and services. Over the past few years, this rapidly growing industry has witnessed significant advancements and new trends shaping its future. As a result, businesses must continuously adapt and evolve…
Breaking Borders: Strategies for International Business Growth
In today's global economy, businesses must be prepared to scale beyond their own borders in order to maintain a competitive edge. Breaking into international markets can open up a world of new customers, opportunities, and revenue streams, but there are many challenges to navigate. We explore the secrets to successfully…
Design Thinking in Business: A Practical Guide to Unlocking Innovation and Growth
Design thinking is a problem-solving methodology that focuses on understanding the needs and perspectives of users to create innovative solutions that meet their needs. It can be applied to various aspects of business, including product development, process improvement, and customer experience. Here are some ways design thinking can be used…
Angel Investment Northern Cyprus
A big thank you to our hosts last week in Cyprus - NI-CO and AB İnovatif Girişimcilik / EU Innovative Entrepreneurship, who we are assisting in developing the entrepreneurship ecosystem and improving the innovation culture in the Turkish Cypriot community. We explored the opportunities for a private angel investment network…
The Power of Planning: Why a Solid Business Plan is Key to Success
Organisations need a business plan for several reasons: Clarify goals and objectives: Planning helps businesses clarify their goals and objectives. By defining what they want to achieve, businesses can focus their resources and efforts towards achieving those goals. Identify potential challenges: Planning helps businesses identify potential challenges and risks that…
6 Strategies to overcome risks in business growth
Six approaches to deal with risks in business growth For business owners who are feeling tired of inconsistent growth… You're not alone. Every entrepreneur faces challenges on their path to success, and while you can do very little about the external drivers of business growth, there are plenty of levers…
Start-up Sales: Understanding Your Buyer’s Mode
When selling complex solutions to organisations it is imperative to understand your buyer's mode. Not all potential buyers are in the same ‘mode’. All buyers are not in the same position or share the same outlook. As a sales professional, you are likely to be trained to positive and sell…
Maximizing Growth: 4 Proven Strategies for Business Success
A growth strategy is a plan to increase a business’s size and value. It defines how you will win a race against your competition and identifies the most efficient way of reaching your strategic objectives. What’s more, it will apply to many areas in your business, from sales to finance,…
Boost Your Online Business: Strategies for Accelerated Growth
Since 2007 we have built up a mass of experience, stories and friendships. The companies we have mentored and developed have gone on to export goods and services across the globe, from digital tools to life sciences, to fintech to agritech. Most of the businesses were started from a simple…
Start-up Sales: Understanding Different Buyer Roles
There are broadly five ‘roles’ people play in the buying process. In start-up sales, you need to understand the different buyer roles. The roles defined here are not necessarily part of their job title, rather it’s the role they play in the potential purchase of your solution. It is imperative…
Navigating the Rocky Road to Business Growth: Challenges and Solutions
All businesses come up against the challenges of business growth at some point in their growth journeys. The key to overcoming them is identifying possible challenges ahead of time in order to make a plan of action. However, this can be easier said than done, especially if you’re new to…
Pitching for Success: 10 Essential Tips for Perfecting Your Startup Pitch
Pitching your business to a room of potential investors can be daunting. Often the line between success and failure for a start-up is the ability to craft and convert a great pitch. Here are 10 tips to get you thinking. The perfect pitch does not mean you have a good…
Start-up Sales: Set A Single Sales Objective
Your purpose as a start-up sales executive, client acquisition manager, or even as the CEO is to acquire new clients. Your role is to sell your services to organisations in your target market. In start-up sales, you need to set single sales objectives. Too often we engage with a prospect,…
When to apply Design Thinking and/or Lean Startup
Design Thinking and Lean Startup are part of the innovation portfolio. These methodologies are being used by corporates as well as startups to structure and de-risk their innovation activities. Inspired by success stories such as Uber and Airbnb companies are increasingly looking to Design Thinking and Lean Startup for answers. To…
Navigating Growth: The Scaleup Challenge for Startups
Starting a business is easy, but getting a venture to a state where it can trade successfully, on a profitable sustainable basis is difficult. Even after taking in rounds of investment, haveing a venture you can IPO or sell, the toughest task for anyone. For the leadership team to take…
5 Ways Selling Makes The Difference To Scaling Up
We’ve long understood the concept of ‘crossing the chasm’. The task of established start-ups who have found the repeatable business model, but can’t get to that next step – the step of scaling up. Great products, cool brand, nice looking website. You’ve even got customers, an office, some staff, a…
Connecting Start-ups With Corporate Innovation
Over the past few years, there has been a shift in the way mainstream companies regard innovation. Innovation within regular companies is endless meetings, financial approval, and various different stakeholders. All, of course, slow down innovation. When these companies look at startups, they see small teams creating a mass of…
Sealing the Deal: Expert Strategies for Landing Your Startup’s First Customer
You’ve formed a company. You’ve built your product. You’ve validated the market and there has been early interest from a small number of potential clients. So what are the next steps? Sales in the startup. That’s the next step. It’s that time when you need to start selling. Now…
Sales Management – Funnel versus Pipeline
Sales management of your opportunities requires different attention and investment by you, dependent on where you deem them to be in the sales funnel. The incorrect sales approach - at the wrong time - will damage your chances of moving your prospect down the funnel to from initially being a…
Finding Product Market Fit In Business Innovation
Finding a product/market fit is the most important task a new business idea has. Forget branding, marketing, selling, or getting press coverage - that means you are simply spending money and time you cant afford to. A central part of our startup innovation bootcamp and our business modelling approach is idea…
16 Idea Generation Techniques
Ideas are things that come and go too often. Without a framework to capture and develop ideas in your business you are possibly losing out on potential new products or new ways of operating. The really great ideas usually spring unexpectedly in moments of inspiration. It becomes easier to come…
The Three Stages of Successful Ideation
Ideation is the creative process of generating, developing, and communicating new ideas, where an idea is understood as a basic element of thought that can be either visual, concrete, or abstract. Ideation comprises all stages of a thought cycle, from innovation to development, to actualisation. Ideation can be conducted by…
Managing Innovation In The 4th Industrial Revolution
We are all hearing about the fourth Industrial Revolution, but what exactly is it? If you are a startup or managing business innovation should we care? It's definitely a topic that has been talked about over the past few years but gained even more prominence The first Industrial Revolution was characterised…
6 Things Big Business Can Learn From Startups
What’s the key advantage that start-ups consistently hold over big businesses when it comes to innovation? We take a look at 6 ways startups innovate, and see what they can teach big companies. 1. Agility. Start-ups have to be agile to survive. Since they aren’t sure what will work in…
Coworking Space vs. Startup Incubator vs. Accelerator
Incubator, accelerator, and co-working space are three common terms in the startup world. However, if like me you have ever felt you don’t really understand the difference between them, then we are not alone. The difference is not always as clear. Because of this confusion around definitions, it can be challenging…
Do Startup Accelerators Really Work?
At the very early stage of entrepreneurship there is a real gap between the first time entrepreneur, who lacks the experience to steer their business in what will be choppy waters – and the usually inexperienced friends and family who offer 90% of the initial funds to get ventures off the…
Corporate Innovation Doesn’t Work!
When large firms attempt to move quickly it doesn't always work and they run into problems. A large number of companies are slowly dying, as parts of businesses are being attacked by other companies and in particular startups. The decline of large corporations has increased in the last decade, perhaps not…
8 Tips For Startups to Secure Grant Funding
There has never been more avenues to secure grant funding from regional and national state bodies. Yet they are not simple to get. Your startup business might be entitled to apply for a grant if it carries out eligible projects or operates in a particular area (for example R&D funding, market…
Design Thinking for Corporate Innovation
Eight out of ten entrepreneurs who start businesses fail within the first 18 months, accounting for an incredible 80% failure rate. But why is this the case? Why do startups fail at such a high rate? The number one reason why startups fail, which accounts for 42% of failures, is…
21 Motivational Quotes
We all need some inspiration in order to improve ourselves and there is no better alternative than the motivational quotes to inspire our corporate innovation projects. 1. Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works. - Steve Jobs 2. “Whether you think you…