Abstract:

The present paper shows the development and results achieved in the project Lean Startup Diversification.

This is a Mondragon University pilot experience oriented to promove the diversification in the companies as a tipology of a corporative strategy.
A Heuristic research methodology is being applied to search new opportunities contrasted with the real market. This methodology considers contingencies that arise in the course of entrepreneurial exploration to identify the creation of a sustainable business taking into acount the vision and the actual contrast of a set of assumptions about the business model.

Specifically, a pilot project is carried out, in which the method implemented in the case of SMEs from a strategic sector of the Basque Autonomic Region and follows the process based on Customer Development and Agile Development. The Lean Startup Diversification method is based on a program which immerses different company teams by testing their new opportunities and new business model hypotheses outside the day to day of the business.

The methodology takes out of collapse the Customer Development process and the business model of the infinite possibilities of a startup into a solvable problem.

This new entrepreneurial methodology involves industry within the pilot experience; from the diversification and capacity assessment analysis of the company`s profile, skills and technologies that dominates, to identify opportunities for diversification and its business modeling.

To reach this, several joining academic and industry world workshop were held. The objectives of the workshops were consistent with the Lean Startup Diversification process. At the Project end each of the companies participating in the project has identified their opportunities for diversification and also market realities were contrasted and validated.

Keywords:

Lean startup, diversification, corporate strategy, SME.