45. Turn your idea into a business plan

SXSW is an astonishing array of ideas, most of them developed and clearly articulated, some of them still in the early stages. Meaning  is one of the latter, a web platform or app that connects professionals in the Global North with young people in other parts of the world who could benefit from a mentor. You can find out more about the basic concept here and about the flow of the platform here.

The next step for Meaning has been to draft a business model, and an ideal tool for that is that Strategyzer business model canvas. It's a highly intuitive virtual 'board' that allows you to write 'Post-its' and stick them in the relevant sections.

The Canvas is composed of 9 sections, the back end, or 'workings' on the right, the outcomes, or customer experience on the left, and the costs and income on the bottom. It's a super useful way of visualising what your project looks like. It shows the revenue streams and key values of Meaning and pushes you to be clear and precise about what you mean. Have a look and feedback in comments, or if you're interested in having a go at a canvas yourself, find it here.