The Venture Builder Process

From idea to scale.

Seven stages. One integrated approach to building ambitious companies, with defined evidence and a decision point at every stage.

Venture building is a discipline, not a formula. Each stage tests assumptions, validates a market, develops product, attracts customers and deploys resources against what the venture has actually proved.

The process is designed to make decisions earlier and with better information. It does not remove the risks inherent in building and investing in early-stage companies. Ventures are paused, reshaped and stopped at every stage.

Step 01.

Ideate

Verb - to think of an idea or ideas.

We generate ideas where technology or regulatory change creates opportunities for disruption.

We generate venture ideas using structured brainstorming and mind-mapping.
We focus on sectors where technology or regulatory change drives innovation and opportunity.
We explore a range of ideas in areas where we have deep domain experience.

Evidence required

A defined problem worth solving, written down
A market where technology or regulation is changing
Domain experience inside the team or network

Decision at this stage

Proceed to evaluation, park the idea, or discard it.

Outcome - Generate new business ideas worth further investigation and evaluation.

Read our ideate stage insights

What this stage includes

Opportunity identification
Brainstorming and mind-mapping
Sector analysis
Domain expertise
Technology and regulatory change

Step 02.

Evaluate

Verb - to judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount or value of something.

We test whether an opportunity solves a genuine problem and assess its market potential.

We shortlist ideas where technology or regulation can drive positive market disruption.
We evaluate each idea against competitive landscape and market sizing analysis.
We examine market size, competition and growth potential to identify the strongest opportunity.

Evidence required

Evidence the customer problem is real and urgent
A credible market size and competitive picture
An outline business model with plausible economics

Decision at this stage

Commit to creating the venture, revise the thesis, or stop.

Outcome - Confirm that a genuine and important customer problem exists, understand the competitive landscape and establish the scale and value of the opportunity.

Read our evaluate stage insights

What this stage includes

Customer problem validation
Market sizing
Competitor analysis
Market positioning
Pricing
Business model assessment
Growth potential

Step 03.

Create

Verb - to make something new or invent something.

We form the project team, define the proposition and create the venture's foundations.

We assemble a project team spanning strategy, project management, branding and design, solutions architecture, UX/UI, software development, QA and testing, sales and marketing, HR and finance.
We use the Business Model Canvas and embed lean startup methodology throughout.
We establish vision, mission and purpose, define the product and service offer, and set the initial metrics that measure success.

Evidence required

A defined proposition, brand and product scope
A project team assembled across the required disciplines
A business model canvas and initial success metrics

Decision at this stage

Approve the Stage 1 Business Case and move into incubation.

Outcome - Create the project team, establish the initial business model and rapidly prototype the new venture.

Read our create stage insights

What this stage includes

Strategy
Project management
Brand and design
Solution architecture
UX/UI
Software development
QA and testing
Sales and marketing
HR
Finance

Step 04.

Incubate

Verb - grow under conditions that promote development.

We turn the validated proposition into a minimum viable product, ready for market.

With a robust initial business model in place we build a Stage 1 Business Case and typically invest in a pre-seed round to build and test the MVP.
We use agile development to iterate quickly and identify key features.
We work with target customers to validate requirements before launch.

Evidence required

An MVP built and tested against target customer requirements
Validated requirements from prospective customers
An initial revenue model the team can defend

Decision at this stage

Release the MVP to market, or iterate before launch.

Outcome - Prepare the MVP for launch, define the initial business and revenue model and strengthen the team.

Read our incubate stage insights

Pre-seed

Typically £50k

What this stage includes

Stage 1 Business Case
MVP development
Agile product development
Customer validation
Product iteration
Revenue model development
Team development

Step 05.

Launch

Verb - start or set in motion an activity or enterprise.

We take the product to market and pursue product/market fit with real customers.

With incubation and requirements validation complete, we typically invest in a seed round to launch the MVP, then test, measure and learn.
We work rapidly towards product/market fit and proof of the value proposition and revenue model.
We use data-driven insight to optimise the product against the needs of the target market.

Evidence required

Real customers using the product
Early evidence of product-market fit
Revenue, pricing and retention signals from live usage

Decision at this stage

Invest in growth, adjust the model, or hold at launch stage.

Outcome - Launch the product, prove the value proposition and revenue model and prepare the business for the next phase of growth.

Read our launch stage insights

Seed

Typically £200k

What this stage includes

MVP launch
Test / measure / learn
Customer acquisition
Product-market fit
Revenue validation
Data-driven optimisation

Step 06.

Accelerate

Verb - to cause faster or greater activity, development or progress.

Once proven, we build the commercial marketing and sales engine for repeatable, scalable growth.

To drive initial growth a super seed round is typically invested, and we use the Pirate Metrics framework (AAARRR) to define the SaaS metrics that matter.
We focus on awareness, acquisition, activation, retention, referral and revenue.
We use inbound marketing and solution-driven sales strategies to scale.

Evidence required

Repeatable, measurable customer acquisition
Unit economics tracked across the AAARRR funnel
A commercial team and pipeline capable of scaling

Decision at this stage

Prepare a Series A, or continue proving the growth engine.

Outcome - Develop scalable sales and marketing, build the team and establish the metrics required to support Series A.

Read our accelerate stage insights

Super seed

Typically £500k

What this stage includes

Growth strategy
Marketing
Sales
Customer success
Product
Technology
Recruitment
SaaS metrics
Data
Repeatable acquisition

Step 07.

Scale

Verb - to progress in a graduated series.

We build the team, infrastructure and capabilities to create sustained enterprise value.

To drive long-term sustainable growth we typically invest further via a Series A round.
We build a full team to scale the business and create value.
We strengthen the team, expand the product, deepen the technology, acquire new customers and drive revenue growth.

Evidence required

Sustained growth in ARR and customer base
An operating structure and leadership team that holds
KPIs and reporting an institutional investor can diligence

Decision at this stage

Continue scaling towards an exit or an independent future.

Outcome - Demonstrate scalable growth and achieve the value-creating milestones required for the next stage of the company's development.

Read our scale stage insights

Series A

Typically £1m

What this stage includes

ARR growth
Leadership
Team expansion
Product development
Technology
Customer acquisition
Sales optimisation
Operational maturity
KPIs / OKRs
Enterprise value creation

The metrics that matter.

From the accelerate stage onwards we use the Pirate Metrics framework (AAARRR) to define, measure and manage the commercial engine.

01
Awareness
02
Acquisition
03
Activation
04
Retention
05
Referral
06
Revenue

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