Is Your Business Idea Ready? A Lean Canvas Workshop for Early-Stage Businesses

The Lean Canvas replaces lengthy business plans with a single structured page covering the nine most important elements of your business idea. Working through it honestly shows you very quickly where your thinking is solid — and where more work is needed before you take the next step.

Who this workshop is suitable for

Anyone with a business idea who wants to assess its viability before going further. This workshop is ideal for:

• Pre-start-ups considering applying for a LEO Feasibility Grant
• Early-stage business owners (trading less than 18 months) who want to clarify and sharpen their business model
• Back to Work Enterprise Allowance applicants
• Anyone preparing for a first meeting with a LEO business advisor

What we will cover

• What the Lean Canvas is and why it works for early-stage businesses
• Customer Segments — who exactly are you selling to, and who is your early adopter?
• Problem — what are the top three problems your target customer has right now?
• Unique Value Proposition — what do you do, for whom, and why does it matter?
• Solution — the simplest version of your product or service that solves the problem
• Channels — how will you reach your customers?
• Revenue Streams — how will the business make money?
• Cost Structure — what does it cost to run?
• Key Metrics — the one number that tells you if this is working
• Unfair Advantage — what do you have that is genuinely hard to copy?

By the end of the workshop you will have a completed or near-completed Lean Canvas for your own business idea — a practical one-page document you can bring to a LEO advisor, mentor or funding conversation.

Course Methodology

This is a 3.5-hour hands-on workshop. You will work through your own Lean Canvas during the session, not just watch someone else do it. Bring your business idea — you will leave with it mapped out on one page.

This is a LIVE online workshop which you can attend from your home or office using a PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet.

After the workshop, participants can avail of two 1.5-hour one-to-one online mentoring sessions with the facilitator to further develop and discuss their specific business idea.

This workshop is delivered by Una Ryan of Marketing Eye

Una Ryan is the founder of Marketing Eye, a marketing consultancy and mentoring practice based in Co. Tipperary. With over 25 years of marketing experience, Una has worked with more than 4,000 Irish businesses as a consultant, trainer and mentor. She has been an accredited LEO Clare mentor since 2015 and is known for practical, straight-talking advice that business owners can apply immediately.