The client: The “FUEL” program at Teesside University is s a 7-week business accelerator for students, graduates, and staff aiming to launch a business.  It provides mentorship, workshops, funding opportunities, and dedicated office space at Teesside Launchpad. The program focuses on guiding participants through the early stages of business development, culminating in a pitch for grant funding.

Overview:  New startup companies seeking to learn about entrepreneurship and innovation in an engaging way. This involved exploring things like; Lean startup, Business Modelling, Value Proposition modelling, and the use of Design Sprints.

The brief: To deliver a series of intensive workshops using the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® in conjunction with design thinking that engage as well as inform.

Outcomes: Since 2018 more than 40 companies have attended the FUEL program and benefited from the support and approach, many of these companies have then grown significantly in size and now employ upwards of 20 staff.

“Silbo has delivered several intensive, one-week  programme[s] of workshops on Lean Innovation and Design thinking for the Teesside Launchpad’s FUEL programme with a high level of professionalism and an in-depth knowledge of the subject area.

This enabled the FUEL teams to learn the core principles of the Lean Start Up methodology and Canvas models and apply them to their own businesses providing them with the best possible start to their start up journey.”

“Loved the Lego….. very unique way to get the brain ticking for our entrepreneurial design skills & thinking. I loved the sessions & have definitely taken away skills to benefit our project & its journey forward.” FUEL Participant

tags: LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, Design Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Innovation, Sprint Methodology