Lesson $3$ Application: Now it$$s time to begin testing your ideas outside of this class and in the marketplace. In this initial phase of the Opportunity Discovery Process, the goal is to test your assumptions by interviewing a variety of potential $$customers$$ and other stakeholders $($people who are knowledgeable about the industry, product, or business you are solving a problem for $-$ your business idea$)$ who may also have an interest in the problem you are trying to solve. $*$This may be creating an online survey or using social media to get feedback on your ideas.

Review the initial assumptions you documented in the Opportunity Discovery Canvas

$.$ Identify potential $$customers$$ and other stakeholders who may have an interest in solving the problem at you are working on $-$ the people you described in box $2$ of your Canvas. Using the questions in Canvas boxes $1$ through $3$ as your guide, interview a minimum of $3$ potential customers via whatever means of communication you prefer; zoom, email, text, phone, etc.

Action Steps:

Discuss the problem you intend to solve. Do they share your frustration? Did they mention other problems that may be worth solving?

Evaluate whether the problem is important to them. What evidence do you have?

How are they currently solving the problem?

Optional: If you have a proposed solution, ask if your solution makes sense.

Note: While this assignment will focus primarily on the problem, those who already have a potential solution may complete additional boxes within the Opportunity Discovery Canvas.

Back of the Canvas Analysis: Complete the Notes section on the back side of the Canvas worksheet $($approximately $100).$ In the $$Additional Analysis$$ section of your Notes, consider the following questions:

How would you rate your customers$$ level of interest in the problem or solution? $($Strongly interested, somewhat interested, not interested, unclear?$)$

Are you confident that this is a problem worth solving or do adjustments need to be made?

What, if anything, surprised you the most from this interview experience?