How we're shaping companies in 2023 ✨

Author

Michael van Lier
January 23, 2023

How we're shaping companies in 2023 ✨

If there is one thing I can point to that had the most significant impact on our bottom line during 2022, it's adding an extra step in our validation process.

Here's what our process looked like before: We used to validate a new company in a span of 16 weeks of almost uninterrupted work; Ideation, validation, experiments - you get the idea. It was a massively collaborative process that involved the core team from a very early stage, and we built confidence in the solution as a collective alongside the Founder. During this process, our learning was that it was more optimal for us as a studio to involve the team at a later stage of venture-building, and have the Founder focus on validating the solution first; Why? It makes for a better business where we can pivot easier to a more relevant direction when there is less buy-in involved at the time.

Hence, the new Shape phase was born. This way, the EIR and the studio only focus on completing validation in the Discovery and Validation phase. The core team then enters the equation during Shape, where we direct our efforts into getting the solution off the ground. This creates a narrow focus, better use of resources and the ability to pivot easily.

The impact? Now, an idea can be pivoted in less than 10 weeks. The Founder can focus on making sure they are working on something they truly believe in and can validate the timing of a business idea with the market. If the stars are not aligned, the idea search continues.

From our universe 🪐

  • 2022 was an amazing year for us. I've written an in-depth recap of our learnings and big achievements and how all this will impact builders in the future. Check out the article on Medium.

  • Noon is starting the year on a high note as well, and we've received lots of positive feedback from experts and leaders in the mental health space. Check out Noon's CEO, Hendrik Jan Griffioen's portfolio of articles, detailing his personal insights and the latest research in the employee mental well-being field.

  • Influentials has something new for its users. They’re rolling out User Generated Content - a feature where creators can produce content to be published on the brand’s social media - with the intent of creating something more authentic than content generated by the brand itself. With this, Influentials is facilitating brands to target a younger demographic - Gen Z increasingly seeks authenticity in the brands they interact with.

Finally, here are some exclusive spoilers for 2023:

  • We're launching Noon very soon and can't wait to show the world what we've built in the workplace well-being space.

  • An incredible collaboration with a leading startup studio in the ecosystem is in the works. Watch this space for more on it soon!

  • We are also commencing our newest EiR track this quarter, with the aim of building another software company (or companies 👀) for the stars.

  • Over the past year, we've built an incredible team around us and are excited to launch 2 or even 3 new ventures in 2023 to shape the future of work and living.

  • As part of this, we are also looking to expand and explore a second hub in a sunny place full of entrepreneurial excellence.

What we’re following 👀

  • Is your company VC fundable? Susan Hyttinen and Elmo Pakkanen explain in their article why some ventures just do not fit the VC model. They also explain common misconceptions about VC funds and reveal the game you have to play to be funded by one.

  • Choosing your founder is arguably the most important decision in the life of a startup. Melanie Gabriel shared a list of the top priorities a founder should keep in mind when searching for their partner(s) in crime.

  • Your go-to market strategy is one half of the business equation (the other half is your product). It is not enough to have one, you must push the boundaries and be obsessive about opportunities to grow. Founder Collective elaborates on what this means.

  • What about the other half of the equation? The product. All successful product are in essence elegant solutions to problems that the world demands to be solved. How do you find those types of problems you ask? Boris Manhart says the answer lies in the validation phase (and we wholeheartedly agree).

  • To finish it off, here are the HR Technology trends emerging in 2023. Spoiler alert! They have to do with Talent marketplaces, Expanding AI and Optimising existing systems.

Come build with us 🧑‍💻

We are actively on the search for Future Founders in the Property Tech and HR Tech sectors to join us. We are also hiring a Technical Co-founder for Noon. On the studio side, we're on the lookout for an Executive Assistant.

Are you interested, or do you know someone who could be a fit? Let me know, or apply directly through the links.

Until next time,

Michael van Lier

Managing Director at Builders

Connect with me here

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