GroupMap Supports our Student Teams in getting their Startup Ideas Validated

There’s nothing like a good idea… and that sir.. is nothing like a good idea. Some harsh comments perhaps but the greatest feedback you can get is an honest one. Now I’m not saying that it should just be any “schmuck” off the street that you should rely on for providing you feedback on your business idea. In fact, there may be times where the experienced guide acts as a perfect sounding board. But when it comes to validation of your start up idea, the goal is many ears and multiple points of feedback. It’s the collective voice that matters. So often teams are forced to pitch with the only feedback being the compulsory applause, and perhaps the voice of just a few panel folk whose job it is to critique, as much as it is to congratulate. Being able to hear the collective voice in the room however, can be a strong weapon in the arsenal of validation. Here’s how we are doing it with Just Start It. Using a tool to capture student feedback in real time, we’ve used visual template on GroupMap to ask the crowd 3 validation questions for each pitch.

• What do you like about the idea?
• What questions do you have?
• What suggestions do you have?

With a map for each school team who have opted in, each start up team can hear from their peers, friends, teachers and other special guests to give them their opinion based on the pitch. Now that’s priceless stuff. Of course at the end of the day, it’s about the student team’s learning experience – so this information gives them more fodder for thinking than a roman feast. Thanks again to Jeremy Lu from GroupMap for supporting our student teams in getting their ideas validated and providing a truly engaging learning experience.