iDBO

How does our innovative venture building
model work?

An innovative venture building model

Venture builders are changing the way new companies and products are created. They are organizations dedicated to systematically producing new companies, which they help grow and succeed. Investage has developed an innovative approach toward venture building and technology entrepreneurship called iDBO (investage-DBO). iDBO is adopted from the project delivery context and the design-build-operate (DBO) contracts. Investage design technology-based startups (with a focus on business design and customer development disciplines), build new ventures (with a focus on venture development and funding disciplines), and operationalize them (with a focus on marketing management and scale-up fields). Investage creates teams from the ground up. Team building is undertaken once the business idea is identified clearly. We also facilitate access to capital for the startups we develop by connecting the different ventures to our network of investors and limited partners.
Our iDBO method includes a concrete pathway to support startups designing and building their future companies:

  • Step 1Identifying the Pain/Problem

    Identifying the problem to be solved. Many founders need help and support to have a clear definition/vision of the problem they wish to solve and focus single-mindedly on the problem.

  • Step 2Customer Recognition

    We must target a group of customers that need a solution for solving the identified pain. Customer knowledge is critical in ensuring that the offered solution is the right approach for solving the identified problem.

  • Step 3Validation

    The importance, depth, and extent of the problem will determine if the identified problem is significant for the prospective client, and the developed solution can get adapted by the clients.

  • Step 4Choice of Solution

    In this step, the problem is identified, the client is assessed and validated both, and the startup founder is looking for a way to look into the best way to solve this problem.

  • Step 5Problem and solution fit validation

    In this step, the problem is identified, the client is assessed and validated both, and the startup founder is looking for a way to look into the best way to solve this problem.

  • Step 6Team Building

    The startup team is one of the most critical factors in its success. The five described steps identified the problem clearly and developed a solution that customers accept and are willing to adapt. The next critical step in the startup journey is to have a diverse team that can support both business and the technical part of the project.

  • Step 7Business model Design

    The startup teams need to develop a business model that covers at least customer segment, value proposition, channel and revenue stream, and cost structure for the product or service. The startup founders need to be ready to change and pivot their original ideas and not be afraid of changing and adjusting the business plan.

  • Step 8Market Research

    One of the main steps in business plan development is market research. The founders have the opportunity to make sure that the planned business model works and can review the strategy for market penetration.

  • Step 9Minimum Viable Product Design

    The minimum viable product must be (MVP) designed in this step. The minimum features and specifications are needed to meet the needs of its early adopters. In designing minimum viable products, there needs to be a good balance between financial costs and product development time and deliver value to the customers.

  • Step 10Industry and Competitors Analysis

    Competitor Analysis is one of the measures to determine the overall strategy of startups. Detailed analysis of competitors helps to determine the competitive advantages of the startup.

  • Step 11Go to market strategy

    The startups need to have a clear sales and marketing strategy. The marketing strategy will help determine the approaches to overcome the obstacles and communicate with target customers carefully.

  • Step 12Financial Model

    In this step, business income and expenses will be analyzed and forecasted for periods of 18, 36, or 60 months based on pre-determined assumptions.