Technology Product Entrepreneurship
CS9.424Ramesh Loganathan + Prakash Yalla•Monsoon 2025-26•4 credits
Last-Week Revision Pack
The final condensed layer. Open this on exam morning.
CheatsheetSteve Blank: a startup is a temporary org searching for a repeatable, scalable, profitable model.
CheatsheetStartup DNA = Innovation × Scalability × Uncertainty. Drop any pillar → different org.
CheatsheetFour phases: Idea→Hypothesis | Problem-Solution Fit | PMF | Go-To-Market. Capstone: investor pitch.
High YieldIdea Hexagon: six formulas — X^d / X+Y / X↑ / X↓ / X++ / X̄. Memorise all six.
High YieldOxygen Test → Five Filters (Problem/Market/Solution/Team/Business Model). Veto, not voting.
High Yield5Ws Who-What-When-Where-Why. Why is the keystone.
High YieldPainkiller = High Magnitude × High Frequency. Vitamin = otherwise.
High YieldBML loop: IDEA → BUILD (MVP) → MEASURE → LEARN → (Persevere or Pivot).
High YieldVPC: 1 Jobs, 2 Pains, 3 Gains, 4 Products & Services, 5 Pain Relievers, 6 Gain Creators. Fill in this order.
High YieldBMC nine blocks in three zones: Front Stage (CS/CR/CH), Back Stage (KP/KA/KR), Box Office (CS), VP centre.
High YieldSTP three verbs: Identify (Segment), Determine (Target), Create (Position). Feeds 4Ps.
High YieldAHA Grid: Contenders (top-left, high benefit, low price) = disruption sweet spot.
High YieldUSP Defensibility 4 tiers: Easy → Difficult → Cannot. Climb to Tier 1/2.
High YieldSWOT: Internal vs External × Helpful vs Harmful. Make at least one SO/ST/WO/WT connection.
High YieldFind Your USP Venn: Winning zone (Brand × Consumer, not Comp) ✅. Avoid Losing zone ❌.
Memory TriggerPitch = Act I (FOMO ignition) + Act II (FOLS calming).
Memory TriggerGET OUT OF THE BUILDING. — Steve Blank's Validation Board mantra.
Memory TriggerFall in love with the problem, not the solution. — Uri Levine.
Memory TriggerIn a great market, the market pulls product out of the startup. — Marc Andreessen on PMF.
Memory TriggerValue is always relative to the Next Best Alternative.
Common MistakeTreating Phase 1 deliverable as a product. It's hypotheses.
Common MistakeConfusing Problem-Solution Fit (Discovery's output) with Product-Market Fit (Validation's output).
Common MistakeConfusing Weakness (internal) with Threat (external) in SWOT.
Common MistakeReasoning ad-hoc instead of naming the framework. Always cite.
Common MistakeFilling frameworks with vague content. Specificity (numbers, named entities) scores marks.