An Automated Business Plan Developer
with integrated Chatbot support.
BlueRipplesDecember 23, 2020
A highly configurable and interactive Business Plan Developer
to help new startups with their business plans.
The Background.
A Middle East Asia based Start-up Accelerator approached us for help with their Start-up program. Our client supported individuals and new start-ups with hands-on mentorship, seed funding, legal counsel and access to a global network of investors and corporate partners. In short, they helped the start-ups address the gaps in their infrastructure and guided them through it.
The Problem. Start-ups had a lot of questions and the consultants were stretched thin trying to tackle them all in a timely fashion. Many of these tasks while complex where also repetitive. Also, it was taking up a lot of time that could be efficiently spent on more complex issues.
The Idea. Our client wanted to build a platform that helped the start-ups to create a business plan on their own. The service had to be easy to use with interactive chat support that provided the right information at the right time. This reduces the workload of the consultants significantly, freeing them up for more complex tasks.
The Challenge. Since our client offered support to start-ups across industries, a one size-fits-all approach wouldn’t work. Every industry had specific norms and regulations for financing, incorporation and functioning. The application had to adapt to each start-up, and their requirements.
Our Approach
Pre-Project Consultation
Our Project Manager and Technical Architect met the client on-site to understand their requirements first-hand. We met with teams from both the companies and discussed the nature and scope of the product. It was an in-depth two week consultation.
After careful consideration of the level of complexity involved, we decided to do a Metasprint.
The Metasprint: A preview of our Process
MetaSprint is our signature Product Development phase where we go beyond traditional the pre-project consultation proposal. It is an intensive 2 to 4 weeks activity where we research and carry out high level system studies, complexity measures and technology choices.
However, unlike the traditional pre-project consultation, we take it further by giving the client a chance to see us in action by working closely with their team.
The Blueprint
In the two weeks following the pre-project consultation, the Project Manager and the Technical Architect worked with a Tech Lead and a UX Designer to carry out the the MetaSprint. Along with high level system studies we also incorporated design cues, so that the client could get a preview of our approach to UX and UI.
After an intensive two week exercise, we put together a detailed report. It gave the client a clear overview about our solution, timelines and projected costs of product development.
The BluePrint in a nutshell:
Project Evaluation/Risk Assessment
Epic List
Solution
Technology Choices
Screen Design & UX Flow
Projected Timelines
Projected Costs
Team Structure
The Implementation
We adopted a multi-phase development strategy to tackle this project.
An Interactive Business Plan Developer
The solution was to help the start-ups create a simple business plan and guide them through the process. Since we were helping the start-ups to establish enterprises, there were a lot of governmental regulations and regulatory bodies involved.
So, along with our client’s extensive database we added a live data collection capability from the government and the other regulatory bodies over Open Data. Making it possible for the start-ups to cut through a lot of paperwork in a very short time.
A Configuration Builder
As mentioned earlier, the process and regulations keep changing. Our objective was to make it possible for the consultants to make changes in the system without the help of developers.
So we made the platform highly configurable with support for industry specific business template configuration.
Arabic Language Support
As we were catering to a Middle East market, the Enterprise Development Platform and the Chatbot included Arabic Language support. This brought in unique challenges considering the complexities involved in NLP of Semitic languages.
The Impact
We were able to honour the Product Development timelines through Covid-19 lock downs with seamless deliveries and support. The best part of any product development cycle for us is watching a product go live and perform well in real-world conditions. Now that the product is deployed, we continue to monitor its real-world performance and make adjustments.
For the Client. The consultants could focus on the more complex aspects of their service.
For the Start-ups. The most convenient way to create a business plan. The right information from the right sources in one place. Enormous savings on time, resources and energy.
Industry : Start-up Accelerator /Venture Capital Fund
Client : A Middle East Asia basedVenture Capital Fund
A highly configurable and interactive Business Plan Developer
to help new startups with their business plans.
The Background.
A Middle East Asia based Start-up Accelerator approached us for help with their Start-up program. Our client supported individuals and new start-ups with hands-on mentorship, seed funding, legal counsel and access to a global network of investors and corporate partners. In short, they helped the start-ups address the gaps in their infrastructure and guided them through it.
The Problem. Start-ups had a lot of questions and the consultants were stretched thin trying to tackle them all in a timely fashion. Many of these tasks while complex where also repetitive. Also, it was taking up a lot of time that could be efficiently spent on more complex issues.
The Idea. Our client wanted to build a platform that helped the start-ups to create a business plan on their own. The service had to be easy to use with interactive chat support that provided the right information at the right time. This reduces the workload of the consultants significantly, freeing them up for more complex tasks.
The Challenge. Since our client offered support to start-ups across industries, a one size-fits-all approach wouldn’t work. Every industry had specific norms and regulations for financing, incorporation and functioning. The application had to adapt to each start-up, and their requirements.
Our Approach
Pre-Project Consultation
Our Project Manager and Technical Architect met the client on-site to understand their requirements first-hand. We met with teams from both the companies and discussed the nature and scope of the product. It was an in-depth two week consultation.
After careful consideration of the level of complexity involved, we decided to do a Metasprint.
The Metasprint: A preview of our Process
MetaSprint is our signature Product Development phase where we go beyond the traditional pre-project consultation proposal. It is an intensive 2 to 4 weeks activity where we research and carry out high level system studies, complexity measures and technology choices.
However, unlike the traditional pre-project consultation, we take it further by giving the client a chance to see us in action by working closely with their team.
The Blueprint
In the two weeks following the pre-project consultation, the Project Manager and the Technical Architect worked with a Tech Lead and a UX Designer to carry out the MetaSprint. Along with high level system studies we also incorporated design cues, so that the client could get a preview of our approach to UX and UI.
After an intensive two week exercise, we put together a detailed report. It gave the client a clear overview about our solution, timelines and projected costs of product development.
The BluePrint in a nutshell:
Project Evaluation/Risk Assessment
Epic List
Solution
Technology Choices
Screen Design & UX Flow
Projected Timelines
Projected Costs
Team Structure
Industry : Start-up Accelerator /Venture Capital Fund
Client : A Middle East Asia basedVenture Capital Fund
Services : Custom Software Development
Geography : Middle East
Features
Chatbot
Configuration Builder
Open Data Integration
Multi-language support including Arabic
Data Extraction from documents
Technologies
status
Product Deployed.On-going support.
FEATURED
Learn more about optimizing your business process or discuss your project by scheduling a free consultation
