VCS 008 — I've Got an Idea

An aspiring entrepreneur had identified what he believed could become a viable new business, but the idea was still at the stage where paying consultants and advisers was difficult to justify.

He posted the concept in the ExEx Ideas section with a simple proposition: “I've got an idea — who'd like to help make it happen?”

Several Expertise Partners expressed an interest. Among them were people with experience in finance, marketing, operations and product development. Initial conversations were exploratory and carried no charge, allowing both sides to decide whether there was sufficient common ground to continue.

One experienced member became particularly enthusiastic about the proposition. The two agreed how they would work together and what each would contribute before taking the project to its next stage.

ExEx Outcome: An idea gained access to experience before money became the barrier. ExEx provided the meeting place; the individuals decided whether and how to build something together.