Incubation Guide

How I incubate ideas inside a startup studio. A comprehensive framework for taking concepts from hypothesis to fundable ventures.

Interactive Guide

Explore the complete incubation methodology with examples and templates

Key Takeaways

Founder Goldilocks Timing

Engage external founders at the right moment - after initial validation but before product-market fit. Too early wastes founder energy; too late limits founder impact on product direction.

Lightweight Gates

Use minimal but rigorous criteria at each stage transition. Focus on evidence of customer pain, solution fit, and market opportunity rather than detailed business plans or financial projections.

Experiment Ladder

Sequence experiments from low-cost/low-signal to high-cost/high-signal. Start with customer interviews and landing pages before building prototypes or hiring teams.

Bottom-up Wedge Sizing

Find the smallest market you can dominate first. Build from specific customer segments and use cases rather than top-down TAM analysis. Expansion comes after initial market capture.

Related Playbooks

Analyzing PMF for Startups
Assessing product-market fit

Framework and methodology for evaluating whether a startup has achieved product-market fit.

View Playbook
Developing Product Strategy
Strategic planning cycles

Whitepaper on building effective product strategies that align teams and drive business outcomes.

View Playbook

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