Content by Entrepreneurs.
Built for You.
Will I have a Better Chance of...?
Developing a viable business?
Yes.
Getting investment?
Yes.
Getting into an incubator / accelerator?
Yes.
Getting government grants?
Yes. In the US, SBIR / STTR grants. In Canada, NRC-IRAP funding.
Why? What is the reason?
When you have a clear understanding of your customers needs and pain points; have iterated / pivoted your business model; and are focused on a viable, addressable market, then you have de-risked your innovation, and increased your chances of success. You will be ahead of 95% of the competition.
Yes.
Getting investment?
Yes.
Getting into an incubator / accelerator?
Yes.
Getting government grants?
Yes. In the US, SBIR / STTR grants. In Canada, NRC-IRAP funding.
Why? What is the reason?
When you have a clear understanding of your customers needs and pain points; have iterated / pivoted your business model; and are focused on a viable, addressable market, then you have de-risked your innovation, and increased your chances of success. You will be ahead of 95% of the competition.
Why Customer Discovery Pros?
Randy Fisher
Randy Fisher is the founder of Customer Discovery Pros, and has 20+ years of tech sector and marketing / communications consulting experience in the US and Canada. He has been a founder and leader of 3 companies, a nonprofit and a social enterprise. (DevelopmentWisdom)
He is an expert in customer discovery. He has conducted hundreds of discovery interviews for startups and organizations - for product development, marketing campaigns and customer success. He is a mentor with the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program, and was involved with the 1st ever TechStars Global Online Startup Weekend: Covid19.
He is an expert in customer discovery. He has conducted hundreds of discovery interviews for startups and organizations - for product development, marketing campaigns and customer success. He is a mentor with the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program, and was involved with the 1st ever TechStars Global Online Startup Weekend: Covid19.
Technology Manager - Randy has deep experience working with technology firms and IT-enabled organizations, and understanding the relationship between technology, business and customers. He has a high tech MBA certification from the University of Ottawa, Newbridge Networks and Canadian Advanced Technology Association (now CATA Alliance).
Proven Educator - Randy knows how to teach customer discovery - to build your confidence and get results. Faster than you thought possible. (He teaches interview skills at Rutgers University.)
Natural Facilitator - Randy has talents and an ease in helping people deal with change in organizations and communities. (He built a community of 18,000 educators in 120 countries - Commonwealth of Learning / WikiEducator).
Journalist / Storyteller - Randy began his career as a business journalist with The Globe & Mail, CBC Radio and The Financial Post. He's conducted thousands of interviews, and knows how identify insights and weave them into compelling stories.
What is Randy like to work with?
He is thoughtful, analytical, communicative and reliable. You'll find him to be kind, friendly and empathetic. He will keep you / your team on track, focused and driving for results.
According to one of his clients, "he's a joy to work with." (See: Phil Chatteron, WarmCall Testimonial)
Proven Educator - Randy knows how to teach customer discovery - to build your confidence and get results. Faster than you thought possible. (He teaches interview skills at Rutgers University.)
Natural Facilitator - Randy has talents and an ease in helping people deal with change in organizations and communities. (He built a community of 18,000 educators in 120 countries - Commonwealth of Learning / WikiEducator).
Journalist / Storyteller - Randy began his career as a business journalist with The Globe & Mail, CBC Radio and The Financial Post. He's conducted thousands of interviews, and knows how identify insights and weave them into compelling stories.
What is Randy like to work with?
He is thoughtful, analytical, communicative and reliable. You'll find him to be kind, friendly and empathetic. He will keep you / your team on track, focused and driving for results.
According to one of his clients, "he's a joy to work with." (See: Phil Chatteron, WarmCall Testimonial)
Benefits of Customer Discovery
What are the benefits of Customer Discovery?
Is Customer Discovery the same as Customer Development?
Yes. It was popularized by serial entrepreneur and Stanford professor Steve Blank. It is also known as: market research, due diligence, customer interviewing, qualitative research. data gathering and analysis.
Is there a Glossary (Definitions of Terms for the Business Model Canvas)?
Yes. Visit the Glossary page.
- Build Better Products + Services
- Go-To-Market Faster
- Attract Investors
- Strengthen Business Case for Angel / 1st Round Funding
- Define Top People Who Will Cut You a Check
- Prioritize Market Entry Activities
- Save Thousands of Dollars + Months of Valuable Time
- Better UX / User Research
- Out-Compete Your Competitors
- Get Into Incubators/Accelerators
- Less Dilution (investors)
- Know when (and what) to Iterate & Pivot
- Increase Confidence - Yours, Your Customers & Investors
- Develop Successful Marketing Campaigns - that Convert!
Is Customer Discovery the same as Customer Development?
Yes. It was popularized by serial entrepreneur and Stanford professor Steve Blank. It is also known as: market research, due diligence, customer interviewing, qualitative research. data gathering and analysis.
Is there a Glossary (Definitions of Terms for the Business Model Canvas)?
Yes. Visit the Glossary page.
Why is Customer Discovery Pros approach effective?
Because it was designed by Randy Fisher, who has experience as a serial entrepreneur (private companies, nonprofit & social enterprise). He is a mentor and served as an informal member of the teaching team in the highly-regarded National Science Foundation's Innovation (I-Corps) program.
Is Randy an educator?
Yes. He has worked with Rutgers U, Commonwealth of Learning, OER Foundation / OERu) and has access to a global network of educators. (He built a community of 18,000 educators from 120+ countries for WikiEducator.org. He uses best practices from his experience designing agile and rapid collaboration e-learning; massive open online courses(MOOCs), open education resources (OERs); and international development (known as ICT4D) -
Because it was designed by Randy Fisher, who has experience as a serial entrepreneur (private companies, nonprofit & social enterprise). He is a mentor and served as an informal member of the teaching team in the highly-regarded National Science Foundation's Innovation (I-Corps) program.
Is Randy an educator?
Yes. He has worked with Rutgers U, Commonwealth of Learning, OER Foundation / OERu) and has access to a global network of educators. (He built a community of 18,000 educators from 120+ countries for WikiEducator.org. He uses best practices from his experience designing agile and rapid collaboration e-learning; massive open online courses(MOOCs), open education resources (OERs); and international development (known as ICT4D) -
Accelerating Time-to-Market
Once you have an idea, it is likely that others have it to. We live in a competitive world, right? It's your job to figure out - as fast as possible - where you can differentiate yourself from the competition, position yourself as a leader in the marketplace, and have a viable business.
Consider this example: A market size for a company's product is $10M, and the product lifecycle is 24 months. The founders wait 6 months to enter the market, effectively giving up 1/4 of the market opportunity (i.e., $2.5M). Beyond this, the company loses first-mover advantage, opportunities for customer positioning and thought leadership.
Consider this example: A market size for a company's product is $10M, and the product lifecycle is 24 months. The founders wait 6 months to enter the market, effectively giving up 1/4 of the market opportunity (i.e., $2.5M). Beyond this, the company loses first-mover advantage, opportunities for customer positioning and thought leadership.
There are many books, blogs and videos available - should I read them?
By all means, yes! There's Steve Blank, Eric Ries, Ash Maurya to name a few.
Lean LaunchPad founder Steve Blank says that I need to do 100 customer interviews - is this correct?
Yes and no. We will advise and coach you - and share his rationale for choosing 100 interviews!
If startup / customer discovery research is a skill, why can't I go DIY?
You can, but remember the importance of time-to-market (above). By saving a few hundred dollars, you may lose thousands or even millions of dollars in market share.
Is coaching from Customer Discovery Pros fast?
Yes! We will rapidly speed up your learning - so you hit the ground running. We have done customer discovery ourselves, and know how to teach it, so it is easier and faster for you. Take advantage of our rapid, agile coaching - book a QuickChat Zoom call!
By all means, yes! There's Steve Blank, Eric Ries, Ash Maurya to name a few.
Lean LaunchPad founder Steve Blank says that I need to do 100 customer interviews - is this correct?
Yes and no. We will advise and coach you - and share his rationale for choosing 100 interviews!
If startup / customer discovery research is a skill, why can't I go DIY?
You can, but remember the importance of time-to-market (above). By saving a few hundred dollars, you may lose thousands or even millions of dollars in market share.
- Getting comfortable with customer research and interviews requires practice, dedication and confidence.
- You want your customer to feel at ease and share his/her needs and pain points
- You want your customer to reveal information and insights that will enable you to launch and grow a successful business.
Is coaching from Customer Discovery Pros fast?
Yes! We will rapidly speed up your learning - so you hit the ground running. We have done customer discovery ourselves, and know how to teach it, so it is easier and faster for you. Take advantage of our rapid, agile coaching - book a QuickChat Zoom call!
Services
Do you coach / mentor solopreneurs?
Yes.
Do you coach / mentor teams (2+ people)?
Yes.
Do you work as a strategic advisor / partner to help with business growth and development?
Yes. See our Gold Package.
What is required for success?
Curiosity, empathy, an ability to listen and suspend your own bias / judgment. Be coachable.
What does your coaching / mentoring service include?
It is a powerful mix of personalized 1:1 coaching, email and instant messaging / chat for rapid advice and feedback. We also provide interviewing guidance, business / tech sector insights, best practices and discussion to iterate or pivot your business model and investor messaging.
Do you offer a guarantee?
Yes. We guarantee that you will save thousands of dollars using our coaching / mentoring services. You'll also save a ton of time and effort pursuing a viable market, and avoiding distractions and rabbit holes that don't lead anywhere.
Do you offer other business services?
Yes. Our services include:
Yes.
Do you coach / mentor teams (2+ people)?
Yes.
Do you work as a strategic advisor / partner to help with business growth and development?
Yes. See our Gold Package.
What is required for success?
Curiosity, empathy, an ability to listen and suspend your own bias / judgment. Be coachable.
What does your coaching / mentoring service include?
It is a powerful mix of personalized 1:1 coaching, email and instant messaging / chat for rapid advice and feedback. We also provide interviewing guidance, business / tech sector insights, best practices and discussion to iterate or pivot your business model and investor messaging.
Do you offer a guarantee?
Yes. We guarantee that you will save thousands of dollars using our coaching / mentoring services. You'll also save a ton of time and effort pursuing a viable market, and avoiding distractions and rabbit holes that don't lead anywhere.
Do you offer other business services?
Yes. Our services include:
- Marketing, communications, research and project management
- Customer research, interviews
- User Experience (UX) research
- Competitive analysis and market positioning
- Pitch decks (branding + content)
- Partnering, facilitation and e-learning.