Design mentoring

Design mentoring: A sounding board for high-growth SMEs adopting human-centered design practices

Client
Innovate UK

Services
Mentoring

Background

The Demonstrate Impact competition was established to invest up to £9.3 million in innovations that tackle sustainable development goals in developing countries.

Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) established a mentoring programme to assist businesses in carrying out a feasibility study to assess market viability of commercialising products and services for developing countries.

Approach

Two members of our team were selected to provide expert coaching and advice to those leading innovative R&D projects within 4 businesses.

Over 6 months we held monthly 1-2-1 mentoring sessions to help assess, develop and test their propositions and business models using Innovate UK’s ‘Innovation Canvas’.

Impact

Improved propositions

Independent evaluation showed that the companies we worked with significantly improved their understanding of user needs, required proposition, and the potential social impact of their innovations.

Accessed next stage funding

The businesses we worked with were successful in accessing Round 2 funding, due to the demonstrated social and economic impact of propositions developed.