StartUp

Blueprint:
BUSINESS From
Idea to Impact
Presented by: Amira Ouerfelli
IEEE SIGHT Tunisia Section Chair
 Who Am I ?
AMIRA OUERFELLI, AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
SPECIALIZING IN ROBOTICS AND EMBEDDED
SYSTEMS
CURRENTLY PURSUING A MASTER’S IN AI AND
MACHINE LEARNING
PASSIONATE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY FOR
IMPACT
IEEE ROLES:
IEEE SIGHT TUNISIA SECTION CHAIR
IEEE SMART VILLAGE VOLUNTEER
IEEE ENTREPRENEURSHIP MENTOR
HELD LEADERSHIP ROLES IN IEEE PES AND IEEE
POWERAFRICA
AWARDED BEST PERFORMANCE SUSTAINABLE
PROJECT AWARD IN 2024
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS:
LEADS DISASTER RISK REDUCTION EFFORTS
WITH THE TUNISIAN RED CRESCENT
ADVOCATES FOR EDUCATION THROUGH ISV’S
SANKOFA PROGRAM
MISSION:
DRIVING CHANGE AT THE INTERSECTION OF
TECHNOLOGY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND
HUMANITY.

Advancing Technology for a Better Humanity

 OVERVIEW
01 02 03
Entrepreneurship Market Research Finance Analysis
Basics

04 05 06
Market Mission/Vision/Values Identifing needs
Segmentation

04
Building a
Sustainable Idea
 ENTREPRENEURSHIP BASICS

TRAITS OF SUCCESSFUL
WHAT IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
ENTREPRENEURS
Entrepreneurship is the process of Successful entrepreneurs
starting and running your own often show traits like
business. It means taking an idea resilience, the ability to think
and turning it into a product or outside the box, and a strong
service that people need. drive to succeed even when
Entrepreneurs are known for being faced with challenges. They
creative, willing to take risks, and keep learning, stay flexible,
ready to solve problems. They are and work hard to overcome
the driving force behind innovation obstacles.
and change
IDEA GENERATION
Creating a new idea starts with
brainstorming. Look at problems around you
and think about solutions. Your passion
combined with a real market need can lead
to an idea that has great potential. Always
remember to test your idea with potential
customers before moving forward.
 Mission Vision Values
This is a clear statement Your vision is a picture of Values are the core beliefs that
about what your business what you want your business drive your business decisions and
does today. It explains your to be in the future. It inspires actions. They shape the culture
purpose and the value you and guides your long-term and define how you interact with
provide. goals. customers and partners.

How to Develop Them:

Think about why your business exists and what you hope to achieve. Write simple, honest
statements. For example, your mission might be to deliver affordable eco-friendly products, your
vision could be to change how people shop sustainably, and your values might include honesty,
innovation, and responsibility.
 MARKET RESEARCH
01
Purpose & Benefits
Market research helps us understand our customers and competitors. It
answers important questions like: Who needs my product? What are their
habits? How do competitors solve these problems? This research is the
foundation for making informed decisions about our business

02
Methods & Tools
There are two main types of research. First, primary research,
which involves directly asking people through surveys, interviews,
or focus groups. Second, secondary research, where we gather
existing data from online reports, studies, and competitor
websites. Tools like SWOT and PESTEL analysis help us organize
and understand the data.

03
Data Analysis
Once we have our data, we analyze it to spot trends and
insights. This analysis guides our decisions, helping us
adjust our product, pricing, or marketing strategies to
better serve our target audience.
 BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS
The Business Model Canvas is a simple visual tool that
helps us plan our business. It covers all major parts of
our business on one page.
 These are the people or companies that Key Components
help you deliver your product. They can be
suppliers, distributors, or even other Key Partners
companies you work with.
These are the main tasks you need to complete to run your
Key Activities business. This could include manufacturing, marketing, or
sales.

This section covers what you need to operate your

business, such as money, technology, or skilled workers
Key Resources
This is what makes your idea unique. It answers the
Value Proposition question: why should customers choose your product over
others?
Here, we plan how to interact with customers. Will it be Customer
through personal service, online support, or community
building? Relationships
These are the methods you use to reach your customers. It
Channels might be a website, physical store, or social media.

Identify who your customers are. They might be based on

Customer
age, location, or interests Segments
This is a list of all the major costs involved in running your
Cost Structure business.

Finally, this shows how you will make money from your Revenue
product or service.
Streams
 BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS

Practical Use:
Imagine a simple online store.
Your key partner might be the
shipping company, key
activities include managing
the website and processing
orders, and your value
proposition could be offering
unique, handmade products.
Fill out each block to see how
your idea works together
 MARKET SEGMENTATION
Market segmentation means dividing a large group of
potential customers into smaller, more specific groups.
This helps you target your marketing efforts more
effectively

01 Demographic: "Group customers by age,

gender, income, or education.

02 Geographic: "Separate customers based

on where they live, such as cities or
countries
03 Psychographic: "Look at customers'
lifestyles, values, and interests.

04 Behavioral: "Segment based on how

customers act, such as their buying
habits or product usage.
 MARKET SEGMENTATION

Creating Buyer Personas:

Once you have segmented your market, create
buyer personas. These are fictional characters
that represent your ideal customer. They help you
understand and communicate the needs of your
target audience.

Practical Application:
Collect data through surveys or social media
analytics. Use this data to create detailed profiles
of your customers, then adjust your marketing
and product features to better serve them.
Managing money is key to running a business. Financial planning
helps us understand our income and expenses, making sure the
business stays profitable.
Key Concepts:

Break-even Analysis
This shows when your business will start to make a
profit, that is, when your income equals your costs

Cash Flow
Cash flow is all about the money coming in and going
out of your business. Keeping track of this ensures
you always have enough money to cover expenses.

Profit Margin
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 FINANCE ANALYSIS
Budgeting & Forecasting
Create a budget to plan your spending and savings. Forecasting helps you predict future
expenses and revenues, so you can plan for growth or adjust when needed. Use simple
tools like spreadsheets to keep track

Funding Options
Sometimes, you might need extra money to grow. This can come from personal savings,
loans, or investors. Each option has its benefits and challenges, so choose carefully

Risk Management
Every business has risks. Identify possible risks early on and plan how to deal with them.
This could include saving extra funds or having a backup plan if sales drop.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Return on Investment, or ROI, is a way to measure
how much profit you're making compared to the
money you invested. It's calculated by taking
your net profit, dividing it by the investment cost,
and then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage.

For example, if you spend $1,000 on a project and it brings in $1,200, your net
profit is $200. This means your ROI is (200 / 1000) × 100 = 20%. Knowing your
ROI helps you compare different investments and decide which ones are worth
the risk.
IDENTIFYING NEEDS & BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE IDEA
Understanding Customer Needs
To build a successful business, start by listening to your customers. What problems do they face? What solutions do they
wish they had? Use surveys, interviews, and social media to gather this information.

Sustainability in Business
Sustainability means running your business in a way that is good for the environment, society, and the economy. This can
involve using eco-friendly materials, supporting fair labor practices, or making products that last longer.

Developing a Sustainable Idea

Combine your understanding of customer needs with sustainable practices. Brainstorm ideas that not only solve
a problem but also help the planet or the community. Validate your idea by getting feedback from potential
customers and testing a small version of your product or service.

Case Studies
Think about companies like Patagonia or Tesla. They started with a clear focus on sustainability
and have built strong, lasting brands. Discuss what they did well and how you can apply similar
strategies to your own idea.
🔹 Understanding Needs
"The key to a strong startup idea is identifying a real, pressing problem. This means
stepping into your users' shoes and asking the right questions."
Who are you solving a problem for?
How does this problem affect their daily lives?
What solutions already exist, and why aren’t they enough?
🔹 Building a Sustainable Idea
"A sustainable business idea isn’t just about profit—it’s about long-term impact.
Ask yourself:"
Does this idea create economic, social, or environmental value?
Can it be scalable over time?
How will you keep it financially viable?
💡 Example: If you're solving water scarcity, your idea isn’t just about filtering water
—it’s about making clean water affordable and accessible at scale.
 Exercise : Rapid Problem
Discovery
"Take 2 minutes to write down a
problem you or someone you
know struggles with daily. Then,
turn to the person next to you
and share it. Discuss: Is this a real
need? How could it be solved?"
"The best ideas don’t come from boardrooms; they come from
the streets, from real challenges, and from people like you who
are willing to listen and innovate. Let’s start building!"
 &A

ANY QUESTION ?
Thank you For your
attention