One of our programs - Participants earn while they learn.
Customer Discovery Crash Course
This program teaches people how to build a stronger business and provides seed funding to help them put what they learn into action.
THE PROGRAM AT A GLANCE
Participants can test the idea before investing in it.
A business can fail because the owner builds, spends and launches before knowing what customers actually want.
This program teaches entrepreneurs how to test their ideas with real customers first, then use what they learn to make better business decisions.
Three sessions
Who is your customer? What problem are you solving? Participants build a clear customer profile and identify what they need to test.
01. Foundations
Participants learn how to interview customers, ask useful questions, and understand what people actually need.
02. Listening
Participants test what they have learned against the market, look at competitors, and create a plan for what to do next.
03. Validation
ALREADY IN PRACTICE
This work is already being delivered through partnerships with NENY, the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator and Binghamton University.
The existing program combines customer discovery, individual support, business planning, peer connections, pitch development and seed funding.
BLOC Builds is building on that experience to establish and grow this program as part of our ongoing entrepreneurship work.
# Entrepreneurs served | # Cohorts completed
$ Seed funding provided | # Businesses supported
We know how to run this program.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE: Training, support and funding.
Business Training
Practical tools they can use in their own business.
Customer Discovery
A way to test ideas with real customers instead of guessing.
1:1 Support
Individual guidance throughout the program.
Business Model Canvas
A framework for mapping and testing the business.
Peer Connections
A cohort of entrepreneurs learning and building together.
Pitch Guidance
Help explaining the business clearly.
Seed Funding
Funding to help participants put their next step into action.
WHAT THEY LEARN: Six skills they can keep using.
01
Identify the right customer.
02
Talk to customers and get useful feedback.
03
Find out whether the problem is real.
04
Understand the market and competition.
05
Test ideas before investing heavily.
06
Use what they learn to improve the business.
THE FULL PROGRAM
A complete program, ready to run.
Format
Three instructor-led sessions with hands-on work between sessions.
Customer Interviews
Participants speak directly with potential customers and use what they hear to test their ideas.
Business Model Canvas
Participants map the major parts of the business and update them as they learn.
1:1 Meetings
Individual sessions help participants apply the work to their own business.
Market Testing
Participants research competitors and test important assumptions before making larger investments.
Pitch Development
Participants learn how to clearly explain the customer, problem, solution and business opportunity.
Action Plan
Each participant finishes with clear next steps based on what they learned.
$1,000 Seed Funding
Participants who meet the program requirements may receive grant-based seed funding to help carry out those next steps.
Completion
Participants complete all three sessions and the required program work to qualify for available funding.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Better decisions. Stronger businesses.
By the end of the program, participants have:
A clearer customer
They know who they are trying to reach.
Real feedback
They have tested their assumptions with actual customers.
A stronger business model
They know what is working and what may need to change.
A next step
They leave with a specific plan instead of guessing what to do next.
Resources to move forward
Seed funding can help turn that plan into action.
WHY BLOC BUILDS
Building access to business support and capital.
BLOC Builds creates entrepreneurship programs for people who have historically had less access to business training, mentorship, professional networks and funding.
Customer Discovery brings those resources together in one program.
Education · Coaching · Connections · Capital
THE OPPORTUNITY
We’re ready to grow what already works.
BLOC Builds is creating a permanent home for programs like Customer Discovery so they can be offered consistently, improved over time and brought to more entrepreneurs.
Funding helps us provide:
More Programs Run additional cohorts throughout the year.
More Seed Funding Put more capital behind participants and their businesses.
More Coaching Provide individual support during and after the course.
More Access Reduce the cost and other barriers to participating.
More Reach Bring the program to more entrepreneurs and communities.
Better Measurement Track outcomes and improve the program as it grows.
Customer Discovery gives entrepreneurs the knowledge, support, connections, and resources they need to make better decisions and build businesses that last.