How can you make the most of the business model canvas in a group?

1 Prepare the canvas

Before you start filling out the BMC with your group, you need to prepare the canvas itself. You can use a large poster, a whiteboard, or a digital tool like Miro or Canvanizer. Make sure you have enough space and visibility for everyone to see and contribute. You also need to have sticky notes, markers, or other tools to write down your ideas. You can also print out or display a guide or a template for the BMC, such as the one from Strategyzer, to help you understand each section and what questions to ask.

2 Define the scope

Next, you need to define the scope of your BMC session with your group. What is the purpose and the goal of the session? Who are the participants and what are their roles and expectations? How much time do you have and how will you structure the agenda? You should also agree on some ground rules and norms for the session, such as how to share feedback, resolve conflicts, and make decisions. You can use a facilitator or a leader to guide the session and keep everyone on track.

3 Generate ideas

Now, you can start generating ideas for each section of the BMC with your group. You can use different methods, such as brainstorming, interviewing, researching, or prototyping, to come up with possible solutions for your value proposition and business model. You can also use different techniques, such as voting, ranking, or clustering, to prioritize and select the best ideas. You should aim for quantity and diversity of ideas at this stage, and avoid judging or criticizing them too early.

4 Validate assumptions

Once you have some ideas for your BMC, you need to validate them with your group and with external sources. You need to identify and test the most critical assumptions and hypotheses behind your ideas, such as who are your customers, what are their needs and pains, and how will they pay for your solution. You can use different methods, such as surveys, interviews, experiments, or analytics, to collect and analyze data and feedback. You should also update and refine your BMC based on the results and learnings.

5 Communicate and iterate

Finally, you need to communicate and iterate your BMC with your group and with other stakeholders. You need to present and explain your BMC in a clear and compelling way, using stories, visuals, or prototypes. You should also solicit and incorporate feedback and suggestions from your audience, and identify any gaps or opportunities for improvement. You should also review and revise your BMC regularly, as your business environment and customer needs may change over time.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?