Startup

The 140-Character Mission Statement

We help [customers] do/achieve/other verb [primary benefit].

Focusing like this helps you avoid “corporate speak” and drill down to the real purpose of the business as it relates to your customers.

Here are a few examples:

If you have a dog-walking service, the feature is “I walk dogs.” The benefit is “I help busy

The One-Page Business Plan

Answer each question with one or two short sentences.

OVERVIEW

What will you sell? _____________________________________

Who will buy it? _______________________________________

How will your business idea help people? _____________________

KA-CHING

What will you charge? ___________________________________

How will you ge

Seven Steps to Instant Market Testing*

1. You need to care about the problem you are going to solve, and there has to be a sizable number of other people who also care. Always remember the lesson of convergence: the way your idea intersects with what other people value.

2. Make sure the market is big enough. Test the size by checking the number and r