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The Changing Purpose of Marketing and Sales Funnel in a Startup’s Journey

In the minds of many, the marketing and sales funnel as a process is linked to businesses in later stages of their evolution, when they are selling their product or service for a profit. However, sales and marketing as a process is very important also in the early stages of the product development and starting […]


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Draft Kuopio awarded both new and traditional design

On the Kuopio Draft pitching day on October 6 a total of six teams were awarded. Five teams received support of one thousand euros and one next round team 3,000 euros. All three educational institutions; UEF, Sakky and Savonia, were represented in the awarded teams. One thousand euros was awarded to former NY entrepreneurs Cristina […]


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Understanding the difference between reality and model of reality (knowledge) is perhaps the most important lesson in innovation

In this article you will learn about a powerful concept that helps you become a better innovator and product developer. We call this concept the reality – model of reality dichotomy. Heikki Immonen, Karelia University of Applied Sciences In a nutshell, the reality – model of reality model teaches us that to succeed in innovation […]


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A problem is defined as the difference between how things are and how they should be, and the relevant knowledge needed to produce a good solution

This article will tell you how do define a problem and what you need to understand in order to have good problem model. Heikki Immonen, Karelia University of Applied Sciences In problem solving, everything starts with a good problem definition. Navigation in a strange city is a helpful metaphor to understand it better. If a […]


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Sales and starting up – lessons from photonics entrepreneur-scientist Jyrki Saarinen

Before Jyrki Saarinen became a professor, he was a very successful high-tech entrepreneur in Europe and in Silicon Valley. After becoming an academic, again, he has continued to invest and mentor photonics startups. During the 2021-2022 Draft photonics coaching process in Joensuu he gave a lecture about doing sales in a startup company. This article […]


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Your surrounding business environment can be a boost and a hurdle

Regulations, competition, business support services and external funding opportunities are all parts of the business environment. This way business environment can both aid and limit your business success. Heikki Immonen, Karelia University of Applied Sciences Business environment can both limit and extend the number options you have to design your business model. For example, if […]


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Start moving forward with your business plan by acknowledging that your experience is limited

The more innovative and creative your business idea is, the more humble your implementation strategy should be. Heikki Immonen, Karelia University of Applied Sciences Dealing with uncertainty, i.e. missing or inaccurate knowledge, is the most important challenge in entrepreneurship. Yet, many novice entrepreneurs act as if there is no uncertainty. Even worse, emphasis on charismatic […]



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Use business model to design your business by focusing on what you can change and control

What is a business model and what is it’s relevance for an entrepreneur? Learn it with the help of Joensuu-area examples Heikki Immonen, Karelia University of Applied Sciences For a new entrepreneur it is good to stop and really think what is it that you can control and decide when designing your plan. The truth […]