Lean Canvas? Been There, Done That… Time for an Upgrade with the Ideation Canvas!

An adaptation of the famous Lean Canvas designed to streamline startup ideation.

In the dynamic landscape of startups, ideas serve as sparks that ignite entrepreneurial journeys. They fuel the curiosity, enthusiasm, and “what if” explorations that kickstart ventures. And while ideas are merely the beginning, they play a pivotal role, setting the course for everything that follows. To harness these sparks and channel them into a potent flame, we turn to powerful brainstorming tools — canvases.

A canvas is a visual framework that aids entrepreneurial teams in translating their nebulous ideas into structured, actionable plans. It fosters collaborative thinking, encourages dialogues, and teases out the nuances of an idea. Anyone who endured the chaos of a hackathon or ideation session knows how it can become a chaotic brainstorming hurricane that doesn’t get you anywhere, canvas help you transform that hurricane into a more manageable breezy summer afternoon of structured thought.

The Lean Canvas: A Good, But Not Perfect, Starting Point

Among these tools, the Lean Canvas has been a popular choice. The Lean Canvas is an adaptation of Alexander Osterwalder’s Business Model Canvas, designed specifically for entrepreneurs to rapidly explore a startup idea. I’ve introduced it to hundreds of entrepreneurs, and while…