How we helped 18 teams in one week through the Design Sprint process
Innovation & Change Program
How we got started
Margriet and I were hiking in Iceland and we got a WhatsApp message from Berytech. The Question? Are we able to run a Design Sprint as part of their accelerator program? Yes, of course we love to! There was only one catch, could we run 18 Design Sprints at once and how would we approach this?
We quickly got in touch with Hany, our fellow facilitator in this journey, as we realised this definitely called for extra hands.
We proposed a Design Sprint at scale program with clear division of roles and what was needed for preparations. It was a true co-creative journey in which the Design Sprint program will be the kick-off for the startup teams. What better way to let teams explore customer testing and validation, making ideas more concrete and experiencing teamwork than with a Design Sprint.
Our approach
The three of us immediately knew we needed a different setup than a regular 5-day Design Sprint. Back then we had run 85 Design Sprints with Orange Minds. But we knew you can’t run 18 Sprints simultaneously just like that. You need to make some practical as well as process changes.
Run a ‘classic’ 5-day Design Sprint so that there is enough time for questions during the days.
To control the noise: 3 rooms with 6 teams each.
Teams should come in with about 3–4 people and arrange their own designer for prototyping.
Per room there is one lead facilitator to lead the structure and process.
Per room there will be a co-facilitator to help with questions and coaching.
There is someone available to run between rooms in cases of emergency, eg. printing, coordinating lunch ;).
User testing will be done by the teams themselves and be given an interview Masterclass on day 4.
Teams are free to interview over the phone, in person, or ‘on the street’. As long as they were able to show their prototype and hear the opinion of their future end-users.
Before the week started, we had check-ins with each team and asked many questions, based on the information that was provided by Berytech.
The Results
In October 2019 we flew to Beirut and met the local team of the accelerator program and our co-lead facilitator Hany, for the first time in real life. It was our second time in the city, so we knew our way around. Beirut is an amazing, cosmopolitan city with great museums and of course great food. Not a bad place to spend a few days. Some final preparations and we’re all set to go.
On the first day of the Sprint, we met about 70 enthusiastic future entrepreneurs eager for their accelerator journey. 18 teams with great ideas, but ideas (and problems) that were not always concrete nor validated.
It wasn't just that. I remember we had many detailed things to think about.
We created a document that outlined all design Sprint steps. Why? When teams fall behind or missed part of the instructions, there would be enough information for them to continue the process.
We usually run Design Sprints without a slide deck to engage with teams. This time we prepped a slide deck so that everyone knew where we were
Next to each slide was a BIG digital timer so that everyone also knew how much time was left.
We wanted to close down the week with all teams together, like a stakeholder demo but in this case more like an update party with about 70 people.
The impact…
… by the end of the week
The journey continued for these teams in their programs. They had many more workshops, help from professionals, and they were supported by an amazing team of Berytech. The Design Sprint set them up for success immediately or with specific knowledge gaps. Within their own team or with the customer. During their next months, there were different milestone moments in which teams had to show their progress. If there wasn't enough possible impact, teams had to leave the accelerator program.
… 3 years later
Some of the entrepreneurs that we saw at the Design Sprints are ranked 30 under 30 by Forbes
Food startup founders can be found all over The Middle East with their products
One startup is followed by the World Economic Forum as a disruptive new startup in the solar energy market
Cleantech startups now working with the world's biggest corporations to reduce waste
Programs delivered
Agrytech - Oct 2019 + Aug 2020 (live)
Cleantech - Aug 2021 (online)
Berytech - Nov 2022 (online)
The team makes the magic
The sweet spot for a Design Sprint team is 5-6 people, excluding the prototyper and facilitator. Less means too little diversity (= similar ideas) and more means slowing down (= too many post-its).
Who did we bring?
Two Orange Minds Design Sprint facilitators (us!) to facilitate and coach co-facilitators.
Design Sprint facilitator Hany from NoBS Studio*.
*We partner with other experienced and passionate agencies when delivering programs that are 'too big'. It's a win-win: a company gets not 1 expertise and way of working, but two. We only work with fun and professional people and this way we keep growing and the company gets its results delivered by small agencies working at scale.
Who did Berytech bring?
18-22 startup teams per Accelerator
An amazing accelerator team that helped to arrange a great location, lunch, snacks, finding the right teams + having a plan after the Design Sprint week program.
