IDEATHON

BOOKLET
Digital Innovations for
Business Resilience in
the EAC
IMPLEMENTED BY:

CONTENT DESIGNED BY: STA RT H U B AFRICA www.dskills.iucea.org

https://dskil s.iucea.org/day-1
WATCH VIDEOS
DAY. 1

Your Tasks
Talk to your target group and understand the problem
you want to solve

Fill the interview insights sheet

Finally, form one problem statement from your insights

which describes the target group
and the core problem.

Keep in mind
Understanding the problem is key in developing an innovation idea.

Desk research is not enough.

You must talk to your target group and spend time with them.

CONTENT DESIGNED BY: STA RT H U B AFRICA www.dskills.iucea.org

Interview
Guide
Structure & prepare your interview with
guiding questions to get real insight
of your user.

See guide on
the next page
 • Introduce yourself and give a brief description of your
project.
• Tell the interviewee that there are no right/wrong
1. Starting the
answers, and that you are interested in their real
interview opinions. The interviews will not be published.
• It’s nice to thank the interviewee for agreeing to talk
to you.

1. Get information
• Tell me about the last time you __________________
• How often do you _____________________?
• Can you walk me through the process of ___________?
2. Question
• What’s your favorite/least favorite part of_________
Types ___________?
• How has _____________ changed over time for you?
• What I hear you saying is ___________. Is that right?

2. Go deeper

Tell me more about that.

• Why is that?
• Why did you do/say/think that?
• How did that feel for you?

3. Explore existing alternatives

• How are you solving the problem currently?

3. Ending the • Thank the interviewee! :)

• Record personal details, if you didn’t at the beginning
interview
(name, age, city, occupation,etc.).

Make notes of the interview (examples)

- what was clear?
4. Make Notes - what was different from other interviews?
- what was special about the interview?
- what was special about the person being
interviewed?
Interview Example
Hi, how are you?

we are (your names).

We are trying right now to redesign the distance learning

experience for university students in Uganda and we would like to
get some of your experiences that can guide us in the process.
Could we get a few minutes of your time and ask you some
questions?

1. Demographics

What is your Name?

What do you study?

At Which university?

Go to next page

CONTENT DESIGNED BY: STA RT H U B AFRICA www.dskills.iucea.org

2. Exploration
Could you describe for me how does a typical day during distance
learning look like for you?

You can start describing it by from the moment you wake up until
you go to bed.

Where do you face the biggest challenges during your day?

Why is that? Can you tell me more about it?

What have you already tried to cope with the challenges?

What has worked? What hasn’t worked? Why?

What would you wish for: How would an ideal distance learning
experience look like for you?

Is there anything else we should know in order to redesign the

distance learning experience for students?

Wrap up

Organize Interview
Insights
Share your main learnings of the
interviews with your team.

https://starthubafrica.org/interview-insights
DOWNLOAD INSIGHTS TEMPLATE

CONTENT DESIGNED BY: STA RT H U B AFRICA www.dskills.iucea.org

Interview What are In which Which What Any other
partner: the core moments solutions is would relevant
challenges? does he / she she / he he / she insights
encounter the currently wish
problems? using to for?
solve the
problem?

CONTENT DESIGNED BY: STA RT H U B AFRICA www.dskills.iucea.org

Interview What are In which Which What Any other
partner: the core moments solutions is would relevant
challenges? does he / she she / he he / she insights
encounter the currently wish
problems? using to for?
solve the
problem?

CONTENT DESIGNED BY: STA RT H U B AFRICA www.dskills.iucea.org

Problem
Statement
Example
Problem statement = A definition of the
problem and the target group in one sentence.

Our user (Describe your target group)

A middle-class Ugandan, working full-time and living in Kam-

pala

needs (What is the key challenge he / she is facing)

an easier way to access health care services remotly

because/but (Why is he /she facing the challenge)

she doesn‘t have the time and patience to line up in hospitals

to get medica services.
Your
Problem
Statement
A definition of the problem and the target group
in one sentence.

Our user (Describe your target group)

needs (What is the key challenge he / she is facing)

because/but (Why is he /she facing the challenge)

Download Problem Statement template

https://starthubafrica.org/problem-statement
DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE

CONTENT DESIGNED BY: STA RT H U B AFRICA www.dskills.iucea.org

https://dskil s.iucea.org/day-2
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DAY. 2

Your Tasks
Find the best idea on how to solve the problem statement.

Fill a value proposition canvas with your idea and be very

critical that the solution is really solving the problem.

Download Value Proposition Canvas template

https:/ starthubafrica.org/value-proposition-canvas
DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE

Keep in mind
Your solution must solve the problem.

Get feedback from your target group if your solutions can really
solve their problem.

It’s perfectly fine if you change your solution as long as it’s

based on insights from your customers.

CONTENT DESIGNED BY: STA RT H U B AFRICA www.dskills.iucea.org

https://dskil s.iucea.org/day-3
WATCH VIDEOS
DAY. 3

Your Tasks
Make a prototype and test your ideas

Fill the feedback form and keep improving your idea based on
customer feedback.

Try to get your first customer.

Keep in mind
Developing a business is a process where you
consistently have to test your ideas with your
customers.

CONTENT DESIGNED BY: STA RT H U B AFRICA www.dskills.iucea.org

Get Feedback
On Your
Prototype
Share your prototype with your target
group and collect feedback.

Download Feedback template

https:/ starthubafrica.org/prototype-feedback
DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE
Interview What does What does Would he / Any Any new
partner: he / she like he / she not she pay other ideas
about the like about oney for the observati
solution? ons or
idea? the idea?
insights?

CONTENT DESIGNED BY: STA RT H U B AFRICA www.dskills.iucea.org

How to qualify for the
bootcamp & pitch-event
Complete all the assignments in your team
- Interviews
- Fill interview insight sheet
- Fill problem statement
- Fill Value Proposition Canvas
- Create a prototype and test it
- Fill Feedback sheet

Additionally, record a 2 min. video explaining the target group,

the problem you solve, how your solution solves the problem and
what you have done so far to verify that your solution is needed
and customers will pay for it. Also mention why are you the right
team t make it work.

Find here two example videos here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=OAhXFeENW3g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzlr2tNSl0U

Upload Assignments
Upload all the assignments and the video here. LINK BELOW
Deadline: 06.03., 22.00 pm EAT

https://dskil s.iucea.org/final-submission
UPLOAD ASSIGNMENTS HERE