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Ph.D. Days 2025 (ridotto)

Rosario Faraci

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START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

FROM RESEARCH TO THE MARKET

Rosario Faraci - Francesco Ragusa - Giovanni M. FarinellaUniversità degli Studi di Catania

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

The seminar will discuss, from an open innovation perspective, how scientific research conducted within universities can generate opportunities for technology transfer to and from the business world, as well as opportunities for new, innovation-driven academic entrepreneurship. Starting from some fundamental concepts, the main tools for the self-assessment of research-based entrepreneurial ideas will be presented, along with a detailed case study (Next Vision Srl) showcasing a university spin-off experience

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

The groundbreaking shift in perspective introduced by Open Innovation
Henry Chesbroug (2003,2006,2010,2014)

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competencies
competencies
competencies
competencies
Idea
Project
competencies
competencies
Product
competencies
Startup
competencies
competencies
competencies
competencies

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

Index of the topics

PRODUCTDEVELOPMENT

MARKET VALIDATION

TEAM BULDING

IDEATION

TESTING & ITERATION

BUSINESS MODEL

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

MONITORING AND OPTIMIZATION

FUNDRAISING

GROWTH & SCALABILITY

PRODUCT LAUNCH

NETWORKING

BUSINESS PLAN

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

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First, it is important to clarify what is meant by an innovative start-up, a category that includes research spin-offs, as well as the general meaning of a start-up and what constitutes a new business.

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

WHAT'S AN INNOVATIVE START UP

Law No. 221 of December 19, 2012, in which Section IX is dedicated to a new type of business: the innovative start-up.

Startup Act 2012

The New StartupAct 2024 (Laws 162 & 193, 2024)

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An innovative start-up is a capital company, which may also be established as a cooperative, based in Italy or with a registered office in Italy (provided it is a European entity), that meets specific requirements and has as its exclusive or main corporate purpose the development, production, and commercialization of innovative products or services with high technological value

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

Once the meaning of an innovative start-up (in Italy) has been clarified, let us now look at what a start-up is and how it differs from a new business

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Startup Definitions

DIPARTIMENTO POLITICHE EUROPEE PRESIDENZA DEL CONSIGLIO

Treccani

In its original economic sense, the term "start-up" referred to the initial phase of a new business in the Internet or information technology sectors. Over time, the term spread to other fields and entered the Italian financial vocabulary, becoming synonymous with "newly listed company" in stock market jargon.Today, "start-up" also refers to a newly established company with a strong innovative character, founded by one or more entrepreneurs to develop a unique product or service and bring it to market.

Initial phase of starting the activities of a new business, a newly established company, or a company that has just been listed on the stock exchange. The term, of Anglo-Saxon origin, means "to start, to get going."

STEVE BLANK

ERIC RIES

[2005,2010,2012,2014]
[2011, 2017]

A start-up is not a smaller version of a large company. A start-up is a temporary organization in search of a scalable, repeatable, and profitable business model

A start-up is a human institution designed to deliver new products or services under conditions of extreme uncertainty

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Therefore, a start-up is an entrepreneurial venture, whereas a new business is a small business venture. In Italy, innovative start-ups make up less than 1% of all new businesses in general.

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Academic Entrepreneurship refers to all forms of economic and commercial valorization of university research-related activities, including patents, intellectual property, spin-offs, and start-ups.

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https://www.unict.it/sites/default/files/documenti_sito/dr_2118_del_21_05_2023_regolamento_spin_off_start_up.pdf

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go back to Index

PRODUCTDEVELOPMENT

MARKET VALIDATION

TEAM BULDING

IDEATION

TESTING & ITERATION

BUSINESS MODEL

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

MONITORING AND OPTIMIZATION

FUNDRAISING

GROWTH & SCALABILITY

PRODUCT LAUNCH

NETWORKING

BUSINESS PLAN

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

Chapter 1

IDEATION

This is the phase of generating an idea—not just any idea, but a business idea (entrepreneurial idea). For a spin-off, scientific research activity is an excellent starting point, but nothing more. The ideation phase can be supported by brainstorming, but once the idea is selected, its pros and cons must be assessed (SWOT analysis)

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

IDEATION

Find a unique and innovative idea that solves a problem or meets a need in the market—even better if it creates an opportunity for the end user. Conduct in-depth research to understand the target audience and industry trends. However, that alone may not be enough

A unique, feasible, original, innovative, sustainable, and scalable idea

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Chapter 2

MARKET VALIDATION

This is the phase in which one seeks confirmation—or, unfortunately, may face disconfirmation—of the original business idea, with a closer look at the market.

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MARKET VALIDATION

  • Does the idea have a potential market? Interviews, surveys, and preliminary market analyses can be helpful. Data beats opinions!
  • The original idea can be adapted based on the first feedback received.
  • Final goal: make the idea better suited to the needs of (potential) customers.
  • Final decision: go/no-go

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Make sure you’re building the right thing before you build it right.(Alberto Savoia)

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“Pretotyping” is a fast and low-cost way to test an idea by creating extremely simplified, non-functional, or virtual versions of the product itself to validate the assumption that “if we build it, they will use it.”

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MVP

The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a version of a product with just enough features to be usable by early customers, who can then provide feedback for its future development. At this stage, crowdfunding can also be an option.

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

Chapter 3

BUSINESS MODEL

This is the phase of high-level design of a model that can prospectively represent how profits and revenues are generated from a business idea (the economic logic of creating, delivering, and capturing value). It is not the business plan!

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BUSINESS MODEL

Define how to generate profits and revenues based on a value proposition that is clearly recognizable by the market Tools: Business Model Canvas or Lean Canvas

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Business Model Canvas

Alex Osterwalder, 2010

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Business Model Canvas

VP
Alex Osterwalder, 2010
Value Creation
Value Delivery
Value Capture

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Lean Startup Canvas

Eric Ries, 2011, 2017

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To focus solely on the value proposition
needs – problems – opportunities

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Markup Sale of a physical product Leasing Rental Rental of a physical asset Use of a service (pay-as-you-go, pay-per-use) Subscription Brokerage Advertising Licensing As-a-Service Donations from users Platform

The revenue model is an important part of the business model.
[MONETIZATION]

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Chapter 4

TEAM BUILDING

It is a delicate phase because it concerns people—their attitudes, behaviors, expectations, and desires.

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TEAM BUILDING

Form a multidisciplinary team with diverse but complementary skills and experiences. Work on team building (roles and responsibilities) and conflict management. Invest in training to fill any skill gaps.

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TEAM CANVAS

https://www.startupgeeks.it/team-canvas/

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Chapter 5

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

This is the phase in which the product/service is developed with an almost engineering-like approach.

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Design and develop the product or service, keeping in mind customer needs and market trends: R&D, design, engineering, production, and quality control.Involve the team and any external partners to ensure the product meets expectations.

PRODUCTDEVELOPMENT

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

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PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT(NOW as-a-service)

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Chapter 6

TESTING AND ITERATION

As in the scientific approach, a design hypothesis must be empirically tested.

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TESTING AND ITERATION

  • Test the product or service with a group of beta users and collect feedback.
  • Analyze the results.
  • Use this feedback to make improvements and refine the product or service before launching it on the market.
  • Repeat the process.
  • This is the prototyping phase.

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TESTING AND ITERATION

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Chapter 7

PRODUCT LAUNCH

The launch is the go-to-market moment (the moment of truth), which must not happen too early or too late, but by seizing the right "momentum".

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PRODUCT LAUNCH

  • Prepare an effective launch strategy to introduce the product or service to the market.
  • This may include marketing and public relations campaigns, launch events, and strategic partnerships.
  • It also involves training the sales staff, as well as planning distribution and logistics.

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

Chapter 8

GROWTH AND SCALABILITY

This is the phase in which the growth potential and replicability of the product or service are assessed.

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

GROWTH AND SCALABILITY

Expand the start-up through growth strategies such as acquiring new customers, entering new markets, and optimizing resources. Plan for the scalability of the product or service to handle increasing demand. First, processes must be optimized, and emerging needs for human resources and funding should be assessed.

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

Limitations of time, space, and personnel make traditional businesses difficult to scale, but some have succeeded through horizontal scalability (e.g., fast food).

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Other companies in different sectors have achieved vertical scalability (e.g., car manufacturers and dealerships).

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

In the digital realm, "platform" or "marketplace" business models are more scalable.

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Chapter 9

FUNDRAISING

There is no shortage of financial resources in the market, but you need to know how to access them

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FUNDRAISING

25%

Seek external funding from investors, such as venture capitalists or angel investors, to accelerate the growth and development of the start-up.Prepare a compelling pitch and present the business plan (or an advanced version of business model) along with financial projections.

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25%

Start-up life cycle and financial needs

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Chapter 10

MONITORING AND OPTIMIZATION

It is a very delicate phase of control and verification, which must be carried out using appropriate metrics.

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

MONITORING AND OPTIMIZATION

Regularly evaluate the startup's progress and make strategic and operational adjustments when necessary. Use metrics and performance indicators to measure success and identify areas that require improvement.

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

Traditional accounting metrics (revenues, turnover) and experimental metrics to optimize the product, price, or market (e.g., customer acquisition cost or customer lifetime value). The metrics should be comparable, understandable, and easy to monitor (via a dashboard). Vanity metrics (e.g., social media followers) are not useful, unlike customer satisfaction. There are leading (input) metrics and lagging (output) metrics. For example: the number of prospects to convert into customers (leading) and the churn rate, or the rate of abandonment of the product or service (lagging). Metrics vary according to the business model: subscription, transaction, freemium, as-a-service, e-commerce, marketplace, advertising.

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Chapter 11

BUSINESS PLAN

It is the most important economic and financial document for understanding a startup's roadmap.

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

BUSINESS PLAN

A business plan is a written document that details a startup's objectives, strategies, and financial projections for a future period, typically 3 to 5 years. It serves as a roadmap for the launch and growth of the startup, providing a clear vision of the path the company intends to follow to achieve success

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

BUSINESS PLAN

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There is no one business plan for every occasion (NO one-size-fits-all)
Regolamento Spin Off e Start Up

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Chapter 12

NETWORKING

It is more a skill than a phase, one that spans all the previous stages. It must be well-calibrated, avoiding show business.

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PLACES: where to begin and where to continue

Toolbox for analyzing, testing, validating, etc.

Contests and pitches to gain visibility.

i.e.: CAMBIAMENTI from CNA e STARTCUPCATANIA by Unict]
[INCUBATORS, ACCELERATORS, CO-WORKING, INNOVATION HUB, LIVING LAB]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StSDRb4AmSY&t=54s

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In reality, what needs to be enriched day by day from a lifelong learning perspective is...

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CREATIVE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES

HARD SKILLS

LIFE, GREEN & DIGITAL COMPETENCIES

SOFT SKILLS

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Let's return to the innovative startup, to the starting point. What is an ecosystem and why does it promote the development of innovative startups?

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

There's so much more to discuss when addressing the topic of innovative start-ups.

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START UP e SPIN OFF - 9 APRILE 2025

Thanks!

Rosario FARACI