Business Prototyping

When talking about start-up firms, a lot of attention is paid to the technical specifications of the future product that has to be introduced to the market. The new entrepreneur test, changes and adapt the prototype and will conduct different tests and will show or maybe even sell to a customer to see how the product can be improved and how it is liked by the customer. This process takes some time and ends not when the entrepreneur has found the 'perfect' product, but when the entrepreneur is confident in the product and is convinced that it will satisfy the needs of future customer who he/she expects to like and buy the product.

More attention in literature and in innovation support services is paid to the need of having a business strategy and model for a start-up company. Although this need is clear, less attention is paid to the process in which a start-up can think, try out and play with different options before being staisfied with a certain strategy and starting to implement this. Similar to technological prototyping, this takes time, energy, and trying out (safe-fail method). Although I have not invented the term, I very much like the idea and concept of 'business prototyping'. This refers to a period of time in which an entrepreneur is reflecting and/or trying out and fine-tuning his business model. And similar to a defect or non-functioning prototype will not bring the company anywhere, a not working business model will never bring the company any growth or future.

So in conclusion, I would like to say once more: "Business Prototyping": the time period in which an entrepreneur is testing and trying out and tweaking different business models.

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