Start-up-Simulation - Ideenfindung und Produktentwicklung

Note: This worksheet is part of the "Startup Simulation" series. This series includes eight different worksheets, each focusing on a specific thematic area, designed to guide your students as they develop their very own startup.

Objective

This worksheet enables students to understand the fundamentals of market analysis and competition in order to plan and strategically position their own startup project.

Content and Methods

Students will engage with theoretical concepts such as target audience analysis, market segmentation, competitive analysis, and the Unique Selling Proposition (USP). These concepts are then applied to their own startup project through practical exercises. An integrated glossary explains the most important technical terms.

Key Competencies

• Analytical thinking and strategic planning
• Collaboration and communication within a team
• Application of business management expertise

Target Level

Grade 9 and above

Note: This worksheet is part of the 'Start-up Simulation' series. This series consists of eight thematic worksheets that guide your students through the process of developing their own start-up.

Objectives:

Students independently develop a start-up idea, from identifying the initial problem to product development, while learning the fundamental methods of business founding.

Content and Methods:

Students simulate the process of founding a start-up. Working in groups, they use methods like the Problem-Solution Fit to develop a business concept, create a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and subsequently validate their idea through interviews and surveys.

Competencies:

• Problem-solving and creative thinking
• Application of start-up and marketing methods
• Teamwork and communication skills
• Conceptualization and presentation of ideas

Target Audience and Level:

Grade 9 and above

Note: This worksheet is part of the “Start-up Simulation” series. This series consists of eight worksheets with different thematic focuses that guide your learners through the process of developing their own start-up.

The worksheet aims to introduce learners to the basics of presenting start-up ideas. They learn how to structure a convincing pitch in terms of content, visuals, and rhetoric in order to inspire investors or customers.

Content and methods: 

Learners develop a pitch that summarizes the key points of their start-up idea. In doing so, they focus on the content structure, create a mood board for the visual design, and practice the rhetorical aspects through various voice and speech exercises. The worksheet contains instructions, practical tips, and exercises for preparation.

Skills:

• Developing and presenting ideas
• Strategic thinking and problem solving
• Rhetoric and communication skills
• Creativity and visual design

Target group and level:

Grade 9 and above

Note: This worksheet is part of the “Start-up Simulation” series. This series consists of eight worksheets with different thematic focuses that guide your learners through the process of developing their own start-up.

The worksheet aims to introduce learners to the basics of corporate finance and enable them to develop a simple financial plan for their own business idea.

Content and methods: 

Learners explore different types of financing for start-ups and examine one in detail. The main part of the worksheet focuses on practical financial planning, in which learners record fixed and variable costs, set a price, draw up a sales plan, and calculate the break-even point in order to convince a fictional investor of their start-up.

Skills:

• Understanding of financing concepts and instruments
• Ability to calculate costs and plan sales
• Analytical thinking to assess the viability of a business model
• Independent and solution-oriented work

Target group and level:

Grade 9 and above