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New Post: A compilation of Mental Models that can be leveraged for startup & venture thesis ideation https://medium.com/@AliKAfridi/systematic-ideation-for-startups-venture-theses-77b672ac1ae1?sk=ce4fb993462e84b48b5c16c08d3abb4e
Since 20 models are hard to keep track of, I’ve taken a stab at characterizing the models by the key insight that drives them. Intention here being that one can keep an eye out for the insights and then reference the models after
The models are a compilation of the work of countless entrepreneurs, investors, reporters and academics who have described and written about these in the past:
1 – Solving Problems & Unmet Needs
@dougclinton's post is a helpful resource for breaking out the types of problems that venture scale startups can be built around.
@dougclinton's post is a helpful resource for breaking out the types of problems that venture scale startups can be built around.
2 – Juxtaposition
@ericstromberg & @tcitrin have both leveraged this model to publicly identify promising market opportunities.
@mjmauboussin & @bgurley have great frameworks for evaluating the dynamics of digital & analog markets when leveraging this approach.
@ericstromberg & @tcitrin have both leveraged this model to publicly identify promising market opportunities.
@mjmauboussin & @bgurley have great frameworks for evaluating the dynamics of digital & analog markets when leveraging this approach.
3 – Disrupting Institutions & {Share Donator} 2.0
@sarahtavel & @msuster's posts highlight what it takes to go up against firms ripe for giving up market share.
Torkell T. Eide, Patrick Hargreaves, & @CunninghamProf’s book lays out some of the characteristics of Share Donators
@sarahtavel & @msuster's posts highlight what it takes to go up against firms ripe for giving up market share.
Torkell T. Eide, Patrick Hargreaves, & @CunninghamProf’s book lays out some of the characteristics of Share Donators
4 – Fast Followers & Clones
The suggested reads here from @theSamParr and Christoph Gerber give an incredible peek behind the curtains of how Rocket Internet systematized the development of clones.
The suggested reads here from @theSamParr and Christoph Gerber give an incredible peek behind the curtains of how Rocket Internet systematized the development of clones.
5 – Unbundling
Leveraged by many VCs & Operators to develop theses or highlight observations across markets. Suggested posts from @andrewparker, @dhaber, @jbreinlinger, @zanderpease, @tomloverro, @ttunguz, @mhdempsey, @jeff_jordan, @dcoolican, @thatguyBG, and @OslundJJ
Leveraged by many VCs & Operators to develop theses or highlight observations across markets. Suggested posts from @andrewparker, @dhaber, @jbreinlinger, @zanderpease, @tomloverro, @ttunguz, @mhdempsey, @jeff_jordan, @dcoolican, @thatguyBG, and @OslundJJ
6 – Bundling
Some great reads on both product / service bundling as well as bundling financial services along with tech platforms from @cdixon, @abarrettmtl, @foxjust, @shishirmehrotra, @peteflint, @mattcharris and @aehartz123
Some great reads on both product / service bundling as well as bundling financial services along with tech platforms from @cdixon, @abarrettmtl, @foxjust, @shishirmehrotra, @peteflint, @mattcharris and @aehartz123
7 – Disintermediation / Cutting out the Middleman
Featuring reads from @loosethreadscom and @barclays highlighting the rise of this model in the retail brand landscape
Featuring reads from @loosethreadscom and @barclays highlighting the rise of this model in the retail brand landscape
8 – Forecasting
Ideating through forecasting featuring analyses of superforecasters from @mjmauboussin, Dan Callahan, @PTetlock, & @dgardner. Also great reads on leveraging inflections ( @mhdempsey) and the second-order effects of the DNVB economy ( @QasimAMohammad)
Ideating through forecasting featuring analyses of superforecasters from @mjmauboussin, Dan Callahan, @PTetlock, & @dgardner. Also great reads on leveraging inflections ( @mhdempsey) and the second-order effects of the DNVB economy ( @QasimAMohammad)
9 – Backcasting
On building breakthroughs and developing new opportunities through backcasting with reads from @m2jr and @AnnieDuke
On building breakthroughs and developing new opportunities through backcasting with reads from @m2jr and @AnnieDuke
10 – Concepts from Fiction
Turning fiction into fact. Insights and suggested additional reads from @BNarasin, @jowrotethis, @kharijohnson, and @mariodgabriele
Turning fiction into fact. Insights and suggested additional reads from @BNarasin, @jowrotethis, @kharijohnson, and @mariodgabriele
11 – Digitizing Behaviors and Activities
Featuring example case studies & highlights from @zensoo and @web
Featuring example case studies & highlights from @zensoo and @web
12 – Tech-Enabled Legacy Businesses
There’s an increasingly large number of companies building tech-enabled versions of legacy businesses. Mike DelPrete and @alex both have great posts evaluating some of these and some traps to be wary of around valuations for such businesses.
There’s an increasingly large number of companies building tech-enabled versions of legacy businesses. Mike DelPrete and @alex both have great posts evaluating some of these and some traps to be wary of around valuations for such businesses.
13 – Enabling Legacy Players
@Deloitte’s Enterprise Value Map and @MichaelEPorter's Value Chain are both helpful frameworks for thinking through where a legacy organization can be enabled.
@Deloitte’s Enterprise Value Map and @MichaelEPorter's Value Chain are both helpful frameworks for thinking through where a legacy organization can be enabled.
14 – Tech Commercialization
Several resources here to help monitor and identify new IP & Patents. Shout out to @ChaseBonhag of FirstIgnite for initially highlighting these!
Several resources here to help monitor and identify new IP & Patents. Shout out to @ChaseBonhag of FirstIgnite for initially highlighting these!
15 – Spin-Outs & Spin-Offs
Featuring stories & insights from @AustinCarr & @_gw on the use of this model.
Featuring stories & insights from @AustinCarr & @_gw on the use of this model.
16 – Expand a Market
On expanding markets with the use of new technology with reads from @pymnts, @JeffKauflin, @susanadamsnyc, Gabriel Araujo and @robgo
On expanding markets with the use of new technology with reads from @pymnts, @JeffKauflin, @susanadamsnyc, Gabriel Araujo and @robgo
18 – Outsourcing and Picks & Shovels Businesses
Featuring posts from @_RobToews and @daniel_levine highlight some opportunities to build picks & shovels businesses for technology companies.
Featuring posts from @_RobToews and @daniel_levine highlight some opportunities to build picks & shovels businesses for technology companies.
19 – Enabling Insourcing
Featuring posts from @issielapowsky, Adam Schaefer, and @JeffKauflin highlighting some of the startups enabling corporations to reduce cost-centers by bringing outsourced services in-house.
Featuring posts from @issielapowsky, Adam Schaefer, and @JeffKauflin highlighting some of the startups enabling corporations to reduce cost-centers by bringing outsourced services in-house.
20 – Channel-First
Suggested additional reads from @reidhoffman, @ericstromberg, @Penenberg around the importance, lifecycles, and best ways to leverage emerging distribution channels.
Suggested additional reads from @reidhoffman, @ericstromberg, @Penenberg around the importance, lifecycles, and best ways to leverage emerging distribution channels.
A huge thank you to @kerby, @Rick_Zullo, @simrangsuri, @ZchelseaZ, @ahmedtherawi, @josephmilla, @amritxyz, and @ChaseBonhag for contributing insights & providing feedback on earlier drafts of this post.
