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Business Model Canvas for Social Enterprise

As I explained in this LinkedIn Pulse article entitled “Inspiring: Social Enterprise in Galway 2016”, I am involved in delivering a new ‘Start a Social Enterprise’ programme on behalf of SCCUL Enterprises and Galway City Partnership – first quarter of 2016 . Workshop 2 addressed business planning. Before the programme commenced, I was wondering whether the ‘Business Model Canvas’ was an appropriate tool for Social Enterprises. I am happy to report that the answer is a resounding Yes, according to the feedback from participants. I hope this post will now assist you to complete your Business Model Canvas.

 

To introduce the tool at the workshop I played this two minute YouTube overview of the Business Model Canvas as created by Strategyzer.  They are the organisation who developed the Canvas.

 

 

I proceeded to explain each of the 9 building blocks so that participants could complete them for their own businesses.

 

 

I used examples of businesses in Ireland who are recognised as Social Enterprises or who have a strong social impact element to their story:

 

#.1 Customer Segments – an organisation serves one or more customer segments

CoderDojo seems to be a brilliant example of an organisation that has defined its niche to deliver a social benefit on a mass scale.

 

#.2 Value Propositions – a business seeks to solve customer problems and satisfy customer needs with value propositions.

Guest Speaker Anne Walsh of Allergy Lifestyle – your source for EpiPen Case, Medical Jewellery, and Anaphylaxis Kits – explained how she used extensive market to validate the Unique Value Proposition (UVP) of their new product for storing EpiPens.

Click to download free preview

#.3 Channels – value propositions are delivered to customers through communication, distribution and sales channels.

Guest Speaker Siobhan Carroll of ACT for Meningitis – the awareness and support charity – explained how they built awareness of their brand. As part of one campaign they used a Beer Mat to communicate the Meningitis message to students in 3rd level.

 

#.4 Customer Relationships are established and maintained with each Customer Segment.

The business model configuration determines customer relationship choice. But, I used Sugru Therapy as an example to illustrate that several customer relationship types can be pursued as the business evolves its offering. Sugru specialise in psychological services. They have confidential one to one client engagements; group workshops where people share experiences; and they are now developing an online portal to bring benefits to a mass audience but without the direct personal touch.

 

#.5 Revenue Streams result from value propositions successfully offered to customers

Many Social Enterprises, such as Vantastic, will have a mix of contributions from Service Users in exchange for specific services allied to contracts from Local Authorities or other public bodies which are often secured following tender.

 

#.6 Key Resources are internal resources required to consistently deliver the Value Proposition?

Types of resources include: physical, intellectual (brand, patents, copyright and data), Human, and Financial. SCCUL Award Winner Play Therapy Galway explain on their website that founder Linsey McNelis is an Accredited Play Therapist with years of experience working with children in both educational and therapeutic settings. {A Human Resource}

 

#.7 Key Activities are the most important things a company must do to make its business model work

Types of key business activities include: production in manufacturing firms; problem solving in service organisations; and maintaining a Platform in network businesses. I think that Clean Cut Meals in Galway is a brilliant example of how to secure the resources needed to get started followed by brilliant execution – consistent delivery as the business is based on repeat custom.

 

#.8 Key Partnerships – is a network of suppliers and partners who make the business model work

Guest Speaker Lochlann Scott of Helplink – provider of counselling, career coaching and conflict resolution services – explains how partners were critical to scaling their business nationwide.

 

#.9 Cost Structures – all costs incurred to operate a business model

Most Social Enterprises will be value driven with a focus on value creation.

 

You will find other examples of Social Enterprise in Ireland – role models in one sense in my SlideShare presentation entitled ‘What is Social Enterprise: An Irish Perspective’.

 

Hope this post encourages you to complete a Business Model Canvas.  Click here to download Editable MS Word version of the Business Model Canvas. It is a great tool to structure (and test) your business thinking.

 

Best regards

Donncha (@donnchadhh)

 

p.s  I also recommend the newer sister tool,’The Value Proposition Canvas’ which I wrote about in this blogpost for New Frontiers entitled ‘Goals and Milestones for Growth Focused Businesses‘

 

I will be attending the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards Roadshow in the Radisson Hotel Galway on Tuesday 22nd March 2016. Further information plus a link to register to attend –

 

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donncha

p.s why not also check out my other website www.startupwebtraining.com

Articles about CSF for InspiredStartups.com

The Competitive Start Fund (CSF) is undoubtedly a significant component of Enterprise Ireland’s suite of financial supports for early stage startups as per this Slideshare.

 

Source: Slideshare Donnchadh Cullinan, Enterprise Ireland for Waterford Startup Gathering

 

I recently wrote two blogpost articles for InspiredStartups.com with advice for startup promoters in terms of completing their application for Enterprise Ireland’s CSF. This short article outlines the key themes addressed by each post.

 

Disclaimer: Ideas and advice in both articles are those of the author and don’t necessarily reflect those of Enterprise Ireland. 

 

Article 1: What Enterprise Ireland is looking for in a Competitive Start Fund (CSF) Application

 

This post was written for applicants who are actively looking for pointers on how to complete the CSF application – it provides 12 tips garnered from experience of reading over 200 applications. The post aimed to answer the question, ‘Does this application fully reflect the potential of my business?’  It also provided some background information on CSF to include useful links provided by Enterprise Ireland: Read more….

 

Article 2: Creating a Winning Video Pitch for Stage 1 CSF Application for Enterprise Ireland

 

The follow up post focused on one critical aspect of the Stage 1 application for Competitive Start Fund – the video pitch which is worth 25% of the available marks. It contains nine points to consider when completing the video to again communicate the potential and value of the business you are pitching. Read more …

 

Both articles were well received on InspiredStartups.com and shared on Social Media. I hope they continue to be of benefit – I believe that I have a good insight in this area and am happy to share my thoughts.

Best regards

donncha (@donnchadhh)

p.s Thanks to Rado of InspiredStartups.com for publishing my articles – and congrats on creating a valuable resource for Startups!

The post Articles about CSF for InspiredStartups.com appeared first on Donncha Hughes, Business Trainer, Advisor & Mentor.

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p.s why not also check out my other website www.startupwebtraining.com

Thumbs up for Hubspot Academy Inbound Certification

I received an email from Hubspot Academy around the 3rd week of December 2015. The email offered a free online programme to learn all about Inbound Marketing. After undertaking the programme, in short intervals over a few days, I successfully took the test and received my Inbound Certification as per badge on sidebar.  This post is to thank Hubspot Academy for putting a superb programme together and to highlight some areas that I found useful. Overall, I found it very interesting and would highly recommend the programme.

 

Welcome Email

 

After I registered for the Inbound Certification course, I received an email explaining how to get started:

 

Learn inbound marketing.

Learn at your own pace. Watch five 25-45 minute video lessons featuring expert HubSpot Academy professors. I’ll check in in a few days to see how you’re doing.




Take the inbound exam.

Once you pass, you will receive your badge and certificate. Already know about inbound? Take the exam today! If you don’t pass, study up and try again in 48 hours.

 

The email included a link to a really good study guide which explained the areas to be covered:

 

►12 Self Contained Sections that build a complete picture of Inbound

Learn how SEO, Landing Pages, Blogging, Conversion, Lead Nurturing, and Email marketing come together to form a modern inbound marketing strategy.

 

►4.5 hours of Video.

The slides and transcript are available for download. The time of each video is clearly displayed as per images below. As such it is easy to keep track and plan when you can watch each class. Each  section also included a Case Study /real world example. There is also a Quiz to test yourself after each section.

 

 

I watched the videos on a browser on my iPad. I took several screenshots when something simple but noteworthy was mentioned and this blogpost just happened. I have decided not to change the images!

 

What I liked about the Programme Content

 

I have selected 5 items to highlight under this heading (no real reason except that these were parts of the programme that were particularly thought provoking):

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 #.1 Consistent reference to Hubspot Inbound Model


I have previously read some material on Inbound Marketing and believe in the principles. So this programme was fantastic as a reminder of the fundamentals while emphasising Hubspot’s structure for understanding Inbound as a System that can be used by every business.
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#.2 Focus on Customer Personas

 

Customer Personas are introduced immediately as part of the first class called ‘Essentials of Inbound Success’ – and almost every other class referenced and added to the topic.

 

I wrote a blogpost on Customer Personas some time ago which provided an example and listed some questions to consider as you formulate a description of your Bullseye customer. I really like the Hubspot Academy definition to include the use of the description ‘semi-ficticious’. Hubspot also provide for download a very good template for creating Customer Personas for your business.

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#.3  Search Engine Optimisation

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a huge topic. The Hubspot Academy address the topic in a comprehensive but concise manner. There is a neat flashback to a video by Rand Fishkin, Wizard of Moz, where he talks about how Search Engine technology has embraced Intent Matching as opposed to looking for exact Keywords.




SEO is addressed as a precursor to ‘Creating Content’ which is a critical topic within the area of Inbound. There is an equally memorable definition of Blogging:


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#.4 Calls-to-Action


The video on Calls-to-Action was excellent.

A CTA is a button that promotes an offer and links to a landing page.

I must admit that I have been hearing about Landing pages for some time but never come across such a simple explanation of the link between Calls-to-Action; Landing Pages; and Thank You Page. It is easier to design each when you understand the link between each as part of a Conversion Process that matches the Customer Buying Journey.
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The section on Email is also excellent in making the case that targeted email that is permission based remains a top strategy in terms of generating results.

 

#.5 Smarketing


The Hubspot Academy introduced me to a new term: Smarketing. This is a repackaging of an old concept that sales and marketing must work as a team. But Hubspot went further and provided a model, based on a version of the marketing and sales funnel, to set out how this can work in practice.
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The section on Inbound Sales was also very practical. One of the short videos focused on ‘a day in the life of an Inbound Sales Representative’ – it asked (and answered) the question as to how to respond when you get a lead from Marketing. Hint: the answer is not to just ring them straight away!



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Conclusion

 

The Hubspot Academy Inbound Certification programme is very good. I would recommend that you check it out further – please note that I have no relationship with Hubspot except that I have permission to display the Inbound Certification badge on my website for one year [instructions provided for that too – very professional].

 

I am not sure if Hubspot invented ‘inbound marketing’ but they have definitely taken ownership and driven its development such that it is embedded in businesses across the world. It is an approach, a philosophy and set of principles as opposed to a ‘one size fits all rulebook’.



The inbound approach requires embracing some new terminology. For instance ‘Positioning statements‘ are a useful tool within Inbound Sales. But as I have often read in relation to the use of terminology in Lean Startup, an understanding of shared terminology is essential to understanding complex and individual situations such that shared learning and experiences can be leveraged to develop strategies that will work in new situations.

The learning curve for both Lean Startup and Inbound Marketing brings great reward
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As always I look forward to hearing your views. Comments welcome
regards
donncha (@donnchadhh)

The post Thumbs up for Hubspot Academy Inbound Certification appeared first on Donncha Hughes, Business Trainer, Advisor & Mentor.

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p.s why not also check out my other website www.startupwebtraining.com

Two hour Negotiations Workshop, DCU Invent, 10th November

Donncha provides two hour, half day and full day Negotiations Workshops. Please contact to discuss your requirements.

 

 

I was recently asked by Maria Johnston, Operations & Enterprise Development Manager, DCU Invent Centre to deliver a two hour session on Negotiations at 10AM on Tuesday 10th November, 2015 for clients and startups. This post details what I sent by way of Bio and Agenda:

 

My Bio

Donncha Hughes specialises in working with technology oriented and professional service SMEs and startups as a trainer, mentor and consultant. Sdelf employed for the last 5 years, Donncha has over 15 years business management experience working in the publric and private sector. My area of expertise includes Marketing, Events, Online marketing and Sales and Tenders, and now I work with startups on all areas of their business to include: business models; business plans and grant applications; financial projections and goal setting. A trainer with New Frontiers in DCU/DKIT; LyIT and IT Sligo; and GMIT, Donncha is a member of Enterprise Ireland’s external evaluation panel for the Competitive Start Fund. He is an active blogger to include guest posts for Inspired Startups, New Frontiers and Tweak Your Biz.

 

What I will cover on the day:

Negotiation Skills: Understanding the Dynamics of Negotiation

 

People negotiate every single day – with colleagues, with managers, with suppliers, with clients, and with members of other teams (and at home). The ability to bring about good outcomes is critical to the effectiveness of people from a short and long term perspective.

 

This two hour workshop provides an overview of Negotiation Theory and Practice relating to Skills, Styles and Approaches. Do you find that you are uncomfortable with negotiation and give in quickly to requests and suggestions though you are not entirely happy with what has been agreed; or do you simply view negotiation as a potential source of conflict and avoid it; or do you know ‘other’ people believe that negotiation is a win-lose interaction and, without realising, create a trail of damaged relationships. Why? Because, most people don’t study, think about or learn how to negotiate and the default or traditional style of positional bargaining may not work in every situation.

 

 

This workshop will specifically address:

– Definition of Negotiation

– Test of a Successful Negotiation

– Positional Bargaining

– Dealing with Hardball Tactics

– Principled or Mutual Gain Negotiation

– BATNA = Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement

– Four negotiation scenarios

– Negotiation Styles

– Ten Tips for Successful Negotiation

 

The workshop will address the importance of:  active listening, understanding the interests of all parties, presenting ideas in a persuasive way; anticipating and handling resistance; and ultimately, focusing on problem solving to create sustainable agreements.

 

Please note that this post is for information purposes only. Please contact DCU Invent directly regarding attendance.

Looking forward to Negotiation Skills talk from Donncha Hughes next week in @InventDCU @donnchadhh @EI_NewFrontiers

— InventDCU (@InventDCU) November 5, 2015

 

 

 

Finally there are two links to Dilbert Comic Strips in relation to negotiation that are well worth a quick look:

http://dilbert.com/strip/2009-11-10  on Contracts

http://dilbert.com/strip/2015-06-14 on Sales.

The post Two hour Negotiations Workshop, DCU Invent, 10th November appeared first on Donncha Hughes, Business Trainer, Advisor & Mentor.

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donncha

p.s why not also check out my other website www.startupwebtraining.com

Ten things we probably knew and were reminded of during Startup Gathering Galway 2015

9th October Galway

Last Friday (9th October 2015) was spent meeting new business acquaintances and talking to almost every startup promoter and supporter that I know in Galway. I attended 6 events throughout the entire day from 8AM till 9PM. Here are ten things (as recorded on Twitter) that I probably knew already but was reminded of:

 

 

1. Startup Weekend Galway is Super

Read here my 2nd article about @galstartweekend (SW#2)! http://t.co/MwEQISkmQk#startupweekend #travel @SWWorldTour pic.twitter.com/Z6E4QSWJcp

— SW World Tour (@SWWorldTour) October 9, 2015

2. Galway has a vibrant cohort of ‘young’ entrepreneurs

Gene Murphy of BOI had a ‘fireside chat’ with Startup Galway weekend participants such as Ciaran, Nicola and Eimear at the 5pm event hosted in BOI WorkBench, Mainguard Street.

Fantastic end to a Fantastic week! Fireside chat about @galstartweekend @NickiOSullivan @BOIstartups #startupIRL https://t.co/kezmGOn65d

— Ciarán Walsh (@ciarandwalsh) October 9, 2015

3. There are superb Technology Based Startups in the City of The Tribes

The @galwaybeta winners are 3rd @C9Health 2nd @HabiApp 1st @birdleafio at the first @galwaybeta #startupirl pic.twitter.com/TVEIhU6av2

— John Breslin (@johnbreslin) October 9, 2015

Well done to Paul and Dorothy (and the team) on organising a great inaugural Galway Beta.

4. There are brilliant event organisors in Galway

Check out the round-up of events for Galway on final day of Startup Gathering – https://t.co/59hzc8fNcj #startupIRL pic.twitter.com/eYzpWpr6hC

— Startup Ireland (@StartupIreland) October 13, 2015

Almost every organisation that works with Startups ran an event – there was a great atmosphere around the city.

 

5. You have to start to be Amazing

‘You don’t need to be amazing to start, but you have to start to be amazing… is the first comment in the video of Startup Gathering 2015 – Galway Highlights. The rest of the video (9 minutes) is worth watching!

#startupirl #Galway http://t.co/ukYW2NakED @CURAMdevices @Aerogen @ei_westregion @BredaFox @1Hildegarde @genemurphy @Tracy_Keogh @Plannet21

— Startup Galway (@startupgalway) October 13, 2015

StartLab from Bank of Ireland looks very interesting. Well done and best of luck!

6. Build something that People want to buy

We seek to service the needs of the MNCS here Colm Feeney SSL Ireland with over 100 employees. #startupIRL #Galway pic.twitter.com/fvCFzOdvNw

— Startup Ireland (@StartupIreland) October 9, 2015

Colm expands on this point in the video (point 6 – 2 minutes) – don’t know if he has been reading Lean Startup books.

7. Startup Ireland has Vision

"This is a 5 year plan, for Ireland to become a global startup hub by 2020." –@eoinkcostello #startupIRL #startupIsland2020

— Startup Ireland (@StartupIreland) October 9, 2015

8. Social Enterprise is developing in Galway

Siobhan Carroll CEO @ACT4Meningitis providing free support and information for the past 4 years @MichaelSmyth123 pic.twitter.com/sLt6MPZ8LB

— SCCUL enterprises (@SCCULEnterprise) October 9, 2015

This was a really super morning of talks and Q&A with Olive of MediStori, Lorraine and Arlene of 100HappyDays4Kids, and Siobhan of ACT for Meningitis. Congrats to Arlene and Lorraine on winning prize in Social Entrepreneurs award.

@SEIreland @LorrLyncher @SCCULEnterprise Absolutely thrilled & humbled to be receiving an SEI award tonight! pic.twitter.com/Dgn2wAhugK

— Lorraine Lynch (@LorrLyncher) October 13, 2015

9. Pitch Competitions are Great Fun (& Benefit)

Thanks to the judges and pitchers at Fridays Pitches Competition in @GalwayTech & @MrWaffleGalway for a great lunch! pic.twitter.com/j3MV7ArXCh

— GalwayTechCentre (@GalwayTech) October 12, 2015

Galway Technology Centre is a great venue and startup location. Thanks to Judges and Sponsors (WestBIC, SNAP, and Flynn O’Driscoll) of our Meetup event.

 

10. Galway has great Role Models

Day 5 – Our entrepreneur keynote speaker Gerard Barry has arrived and is briefed by @johnbreslin #startupIRL pic.twitter.com/FqlHpymTZZ

— Startup Ireland (@StartupIreland) October 9, 2015

 

Gerard Barry of Fintrax gave a brilliant address at the official closing event in the Meyrick on how they built an international startup from rural Galway – and sold it for €180 million a few years ago. It can be done again. There were lots of serious points about creating an ecosystem for entrepreneurs in Galway at the All Island Forum event in the morning as per this post on the main Startup Gathering page. There is certainly great momentum for Galway to support Startups.

 

Overall, I had a great day as I predicted in my LinkedIn Pulse article – thanks to Startup Ireland team and locally to John Breslin. Leaving the last word to Startup Ireland who I know are already preparing for next year. They would like you to take the time to tell them how you benefited from this year’s Startup Gathering.

We want you to tell us your Startup Gathering stories! Fill in this short form http://t.co/ALBbidW8UF #startupIRL pic.twitter.com/Z9wvWJnWyR

— Startup Ireland (@StartupIreland) October 14, 2015

 

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p.s why not also check out my other website www.startupwebtraining.com