The VentureLab Ideas Accelerator manages the “ideas to value” continuum by taking an idea from a technically validated prototype through to Pre-seed and Seed investment. To support the growth of early stage startups the following process is put into action:

• Identifying, mentoring, and developing promising ideas (ideas),
• Establishing proof of commercial concept and entrepreneur credibility (acceleration)
• Creating validated commercial value-propositions and plans to scale (business plans),
• Bringing together investors and angels to lead seed rounds (investment), and
• Leading and facilitating subsequent investment in Series A,B, and C (scaling)

During the 5-Month Accelerator Programme, both the idea and the ideator (entrepreneur) passes through a series of stringent tests and are validated. Through a rigorous and structured programme, founders define the value-propositions, arrive at product features and characteristics, and learn to make trade-offs through rapid prototyping strategy.  At a later stage, they develop a go-to-market strategy to validate proof of commercial concept. Founders are further tested for grit and character of their idea to ensure they are well prepared for their introduction the Partners who would invest in the founders/ideas and help them develop.

Validating the Idea and the Entrepreneur(s)

The VentureLab primarily achieves this through carefully curated content, group work, and mentoring during 5 weekends over a 5-month process broadly divided along the following themes:

a) Understanding the Customer (and your value proposition)

b) Product Definition and Improvement through Rapid Prototyping

c) Go to Market Strategy and Proof of Commercial Concept

d) Business and Financial Planning

e) Investor Readiness

Throughout the intervening periods, venture teams work on tailored assignments to help them codify their learnings and address gaps in their product and market strategies, confer and meet with assigned mentors, and do regular check-ins with the VentureLab Team to address any outstanding issues.