The MSME Idea Accelerator Tool is designed to assist women and minority entrepreneurs in Kosovo in the generation, evaluation, and refinement of their business ideas. It was inspired by NESTA’s Fast Idea Generator.
The tool consists of three main steps:
- Idea Generation
- Idea Evaluation
- Idea Refinement
Each step contains a series of prompts specifically tailored to the Kosovo business environment and the unique challenges faced by women and minority entrepreneurs.
Step 1: Idea Generation
Prompt 1: What are the major issues your community in Kosovo is facing? Example: Lack of affordable childcare services.
Prompt 2: What solutions currently exist, and where are they falling short? Example: Existing childcare services are costly or lack flexibility for working parents.
Prompt 3: How could your expertise help bridge this gap? Example: Offering an affordable, flexible childcare service that incorporates educational activities.
Step 2: Idea Evaluation
Prompt 4: What resources are necessary for this idea? Example: A secure environment for children, qualified staff, educational materials.
Prompt 5: Are these resources readily accessible, or could they be acquired? Example: The local community center could serve as a venue, and retired teachers might be interested in staffing.
Prompt 6: How would this idea benefit from being run by a woman or minority entrepreneur? Example: Enhanced trust within minority communities, and a nuanced understanding of specific cultural needs.
Step 3: Idea Refinement
Prompt 7: What could be the initial Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to validate this idea? Example: A weekend-only childcare service operating from a local community center.
Prompt 8: How would you gauge the success of the MVP? Example: Enrollment rates, parent feedback, and frequency of use.
Prompt 9: After MVP validation, what are the next steps? Example: Secure additional funding, expand services, hire more staff.
How to Use the MSME Idea Accelerator Tool
- Select Your Stage: Choose the step that most closely matches your current position in your entrepreneurial journey.
- Answer the Prompts: Thoughtfully respond to each prompt.
- Review and Refine: After completing each stage, review your answers. Seek patterns or new insights that may help refine your idea.
