Every innovation project has its share of uncertainties and complexity. Developing your innovation and embarking on an entrepreneurial adventure can turn out to be a real obstacle course. In France, several players support and provide financial assistance to innovator entrepreneurs. However, just like winning clients, convincing investors as well as support structures is no easy task…
Whatever is addressed in your innovation and field of activity, you will face two major challenges: Access to qualified prospects and mobilization of investors, which will allow you to develop your innovative product or service and generate growth. In this article, innovation experts from Ixiade Company (Absiskey group) give you some advice on how to implement your strategy and thus maximize your product or service’s chances of success in the target market.
Develop an innovative concept: To convince investors to understand their expectations
Most entrepreneurs who develop an innovative project go through fundraising Implement and bring their innovation to life. Traditionally, it is possible to approach banks, possibly private investment funds, but also to run crowdfunding campaigns. It is also possible to enter a “seed” approach, i.e. work in phases of fundraising.
This multi-stage model is relatively well-known in the start-up world. In the first phase of initiation or “pre-seed”, the investors are usually public actors such as state and local authorities and the next phase “Series A, Series B, Series C, …”, is isolated. raised. This approach represents major financial support, responding to the emerging needs of an entrepreneurial and innovative project, with investors such as “Business Angels”, “BPI France” (public investment banks) and various other public or private financial organizations. within the framework of innovative projects, you can also take advantage CIR (Research Tax Credit) and CII (Innovation Tax Credit), which
Also represent major support in the creation and development of your innovation.
Whatever steps are taken, the main bet is to entice and above all reassure its investors by providing them with evidence of the potential of your project, which will make it possible Decrease their perception of risk taking. Thus, beyond the elements of the business model and the technical specifications of your innovative product or service, a market research Will embody the anticipation of your project’s progress and its marketing.
studies are really needed give confidence to the project And convinced of its potential
Marlet, When you put together your funding requests, it is therefore essential to pay special attention to the studies part. For this we recommend that you call in professionals to study innovation, especially since that is where you will be able to benefit. strong results, with a certain scientific value.
To bring this perspective proof of marketability Your innovative product or service with speed and reliability, the Ixiade team has developed Digital Qualitative Research Service: Reach Your Market (RYM). If this service is recommended to you today, it is because it offers expert support (based on scientifically validated methodologies), complete (thanks to the vision of multidisciplinary experts) and tailor-made (to your needs and goals). friendly) is the only one to offer. ) Thanks to RyM, you will finally know the real Chances of success of your innovation on the market And thus there are solid and quality elements to convince your investors.
Marketing your innovation: Giving meaning to your project to attract future users.
In parallel with looking for downstream or investors, it is necessary to prepare Marketing your innovative product or service. This step involves significant risks for all project leaders. The failure rate in innovation today is relatively high and very often the dream of becoming the next French unicorn is shattered: 80% of innovations do not go past the development stage and 75% of innovations do not survive the first year of marketing.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Innovation It is therefore essential to develop a solid and effective business strategy and thus reach the most promising markets. More than half of the 10 most frequent causes of failure are related to the human factor and Poor understanding of users, their uses And their environment is one of the main.
Thus, we recommend any innovative project leader To integrate your future users As early as possible in its innovation process. it starts with the creation of Customer Profile, in other words” Pot “. The goal is to understand their aspirations, needs and issues. But then you have to make sure that your proposal responds to the brakes and motivations of the defined individual. For that, it is necessary to be interested in the question of embrace your innovation, which is based exclusively on the meaning and value attributed to innovation by your users.
Reach your market Qualitative study to assess its acceptability (users’ ability to see themselves in its use) and its ability to embrace your innovation. Desire (Emotions felt by users). To this end, RyM experts directly solicit your future users and collect their opinions, feelings and perceptions regarding your innovative product or service. this approach human centered Validating the meeting between the features and needs of the proposal, expectations of users and making it possible to have at hand all the keys to maximizing the chances of success of your innovation project with your future clients. It will also help you create a sales pitch that will appeal to and trust your prospects for personalized recommendations from RyM studies.
and draw conclusions?
The challenge is to convince investors in your project and its marketability by providing Reliable and strong proof of concept, and the challenge of attracting future customers to understand your users As soon as possible to give meaning to your innovation project, verify its acceptability and create an effective strategy with a solid sales pitch. Digitized Qualitative Research Service rhubarb The human-centered vision is there to provide you with the elements to explain all your goals by going against traditional market research for the reality of usage and user expectations. So don’t hesitate anymore and a Online Bidding Simulation!
Writers
Sirin Casagne, Web Marketing Officer (Linkedin – Website)
Charlotte Rocks, Marketing Project Manager (Linkedin – Website)
Article written in collaboration with Ixiade