Starting a business is exciting, but how do you know if your idea will work?
🙌MESH Biz' Class Week 5: The Smart Way To Build A Business
Many entrepreneurs invest too much time, money, and effort in a business before testing if there’s a real demand. The best way to avoid failure is to test your idea with real people before going all in.
Business testing ni small, low-risk experiment kucheki kama watu wako interested in your biz. Wako willing kulipa for your product or service?
Assignment: Test Biz Yako
✅ Bonga na at least 5 – 10 potential customers.
✅ Use the 5-question script then gauge responses zao.
✅ Interpret results zako and adjust accordingly.
5 TESTING AREAS & QUESTIONS
1️⃣ DEMAND: Do people want or need this?
🔹 "How do you currently get [product/service]?"
(e.g., “Huwa una-buy lunch wapi?” “Huwa una-get looku zako aje?”)
2️⃣ CONVENIENCE: Is it easy for them to access?
🔹 "Ni nini unapenda/hupendi about your current option?"
(e.g., “Is it affordable? Easy to get? Good quality?”)
3️⃣ SCALABILITY: Can the business grow easily?
🔹 "Have you ever wanted something better or different? What’s stopping you?"
(e.g., “Una-prefer delivery instead of pickup? Why or why not?”)
4️⃣ PRICING: Will they pay for it?
🔹 "If I offered [product/service] at Ksh X, would you consider buying it?"
(e.g., “Unaweza lipa Ksh 250 for a fresh, home-cooked lunch ikiwa delivered kwa ofisi yako?”)
5️⃣ REPEAT CUSTOMERS: Will they come back or refer others?
🔹 "Who else do you know that might want this?"
(e.g., “Colleagues au mabeshte zako wanaweza kuwa interested pia?”)
Purpose ya testing ni kujibu key questions like:
• Do people want or need this?
• Wako willing kulipa how much?
• Naweza improve idea yangu aje before going all in?
Testing mapema huku-save from wasting doh on something watu hawata buy and helps you refine your biz idea for success.
🚀 Ni cheaper ku-test biz yako kwanza. Hakuna need ya buy large stock or expensive equipment.
📢 You get real feedback. Instead of guessing, una-get feedback directly from customers.
🎯 Unaweza improve fast. Change pricing, packaging, or approach based on what you learn.
Where Can You Test Your Biz?
📍 Your immediate network: Family, friends, colleagues, and neighbours.
📍 Social media: WhatsApp groups, Facebook Marketplace, Instagram stories.
📍 Public spaces: Local events, the market, church, matatu stages.
TESTING TIPS💡
1️⃣ Don’t Ask Leading Questions – Acha watu wajiachilie ku-get useful feedback
Badala ya kuuliza, “Unaweza buy homemade lunch delivery service kutoka kwangu?”, Uliza “Huwa una-get lunch yako aje , and ni nini unapenda/hupendi about it?”
2️⃣ Be Ready Ku-change idea yako
watu wengi wakisema bei yako iko too high ama the product doesn’t solve a real problem, usi-lose hope, adjust!
3️⃣ Make sure una-test with real potential customers, not just people who will say nice things (like your mum😅)
Testing ni about discovering who to serve, how to serve them, and where to reach them.
Mtu aki-disagree na idea yako, ask why, their answer might reveal something important!
Join MESHERS Live Session!
Share test results zako, get expert feedback from other MESHERS wanafanya biz, and make business idea yako better.
WHERE & WHEN
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