WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Turns complex strategy into executable results.
... combines strategic clarity with pragmatic execution. Under her leadership, cross-functional initiatives advanced faster, with stronger alignment and measurable impact.
​
— Dr. Mayur Dalwani, MBA
Director R&D Programs | Philips
By the end of every session, I had a clear plan.
...challenged my leadership with pragmatic, sometimes tough questions. She brought me back to what truly matters — energy, finances, and execution. I left each session supported, focused, and ready to act.
— Kateryna Saprunova
CEO, Business Nest | PhD | EngD
The program opened business paths I hadn’t seen before.
...pushed me to rethink my assumptions and explore viable revenue models I hadn’t considered. That shift changed how I see my venture.
— Juanita Ayala
Water & Climate Specialist
Built for employed founders
Ignition is structured for professionals who:
​
• Are testing ideas while employed
• Want evidence before incorporation
• Value discipline over excitement
• Prefer structured exposure to chaotic experimentation
​
This is not a leap.
It is a controlled experiment.
Average weekly workload: 3–5 focused hours.
Designed to run alongside a full-time job.
​
Ignition replaces guessing with evidence.
What you’ll get out of this program
Based on structured validation frameworks used in corporate R&D and early-stage ventures.
Validation
(Core)
Idea Validation
Test if the problem is real and if people would pay.
✅ Customer interview script
✅ Evidence checklist (what must be true)
✅ Go / pivot / stop score
✅ AI prompts for accelerated validation
Business Model
(Money Logic)
Business Model & Pricing
Make the money logic clear before you build.
✅ Pricing & willingness-to-pay tests
✅ Simple cost & runway view
✅ What to sell first (and to whom)
✅ AI prompts for profitable Business Model
Risk
(Protect downside)
Risk & Reality Check
Find what could break your venture early.
✅ Market risk map
✅ Technical / delivery risk map
✅ “Bad idea” test (kill weak paths)
✅ AI prompts for stress testing your business idea
Execution (Weekly operating rhythm)
Execution Rhythm
A weekly structure that keeps you moving.
✅ One key assumption per week
✅ Clear weekly milestone
✅ Accountability without pressure
✅ AI productivity prompts
Decision + Next Step (The deliverable)
Founder Decision Board
End with a clear decision and next move.
✅ Written Founder Decision Document
✅ Growth potential check (can it reach your goal?)
✅ Next 90-day plan (if it’s a GO)
✅ AI prompts for getting your real market fit
What we’ll cover
Each week ends with a concrete deliverable.
1
The Real Question
Outcome​
You define:
-
What decision you are actually making
-
What “success” means for this program
-
What would make this idea a mistake
​
Topics​
Idea vs opportunity
-
Decision horizon (3–12 months)
-
Personal constraints (time, risk, money)
-
“What would need to be true?”
2
Problem Precision
Outcome​
You define:
-
A narrow, real problem
-
A specific person in a specific context
​​
​
​
​
Topics​
-
Problem vs solution thinking
-
Role-based segmentation
-
Context over demographics
-
Observable pain signals
3
Current Alternatives
Outcome​
You map:
-
What people do today instead
-
Why that may be “good enough”
​​
​
​
​
Topics​
-
Workarounds
-
Inaction cost
-
Why competitors matter
-
Hidden substitutes
4
Customer Conversations
Outcome​
You conduct:
-
5–10 structured interviews
-
Without pitching
​​
​
​
​
​
Topics​
-
Interview structure
-
Neutral questioning
-
Avoiding leading bias
-
Extracting signals
5
Evidence Review
Outcome​
You assess:
-
Is the problem frequent?
-
Is it painful?
-
Is it paid?
​​
​
​
​
Topics​
-
Signal vs noise
-
Confirmation bias
-
Early demand indicators
-
Decision thresholds
6
Risk Mapping
Outcome​
You map:
-
Market risk
-
Technical risk
-
Financial risk
-
Personal risk
​​
​
Topics​
-
Risk hierarchy
-
First-order vs second-order risk
-
Risk stacking
-
Risk mitigation options
7
Feasibility & Constraints
Outcome​
You assess:
-
Time reality
-
Financial runway
-
Skill gaps
-
Legal/IP constraints
​​
​
Topics​
-
Side-build feasibility
-
Corporate restrictions
-
Resource mapping
-
Burn rate estimation
8
Early Offer Logic
Outcome​
You outline:
-
First simple offer
-
Clear value exchange
-
Who would realistically pay first
​
Topics​
-
Value vs features
-
Early adopter profile
-
Pricing logic (simple, not complex)
-
Offer clarity test
9
Decision Synthesis
Outcome​
You prepare:
-
Decision memo
-
Evidence summary
-
Clear recommendation
​​
​
Topics​
-
Decision discipline
-
Avoiding sunk cost bias
-
What counts as “enough evidence”
-
Rational stopping
10
Final Decision & Path Forward
Outcome​
You leave with:
-
A clear decision
-
A structured next step
-
A calm, defensible position
​
Topics​
-
Group review
-
Red flag discussion
-
Execution path (if Go)
-
Closure (if Stop)
Who is the Program for
This is for you if:
You are building a high-tech or deep-tech equipment product
You are a first-time founder
You want a real business, not a hobby
You are ready to make decisions and execute
This is NOT for you if:
You want passive income or “get rich quick”
You are not willing to talk to customers
You want theory without accountability
Not for founders looking for motivation. This is structured work.
Investment
​€2,400 (excl. VAT)
Cohort size: 8–10 founders
Next start date: 16 March 2026
Equivalent to:​​​
-
One wrong prototype iteration
-
One month of salary
-
3–5% of typical early startup burn​​
Commitment
​If you:
-
Attend all sessions
-
Complete milestones
-
Conduct required validation work
​
And still do not have a defensible decision,​
​
You receive:
-
Up to 3 private sessions OR
-
Full refund.
The most expensive mistake is building something no one needs.
Led by Dr. Anna Ezerskiy
-
PhD Physics
-
Executive MBA
-
Led multi-million R&D programs
-
Built hardware in real companies
-
Not a theoretical startup coach
FAQ – Ignition
1. Is this coaching?
​
No.Ignition is a structured validation operating system.
Each week follows a defined process: Assumption → Test → Evidence → Review → Decision.
There is guidance and feedback, but this is not open-ended coaching.
​
2. What if I don’t have time?
​
Ignition requires approximately 3–5 focused hours per week.
If you cannot commit to customer conversations and structured execution, this is not the right time.
​
3. What if my idea fails during the program?
​
Then the program worked.
A clear “stop” decision is far cheaper than an unclear “continue.”Many founders avoid structured validation because they fear negative evidence.Ignition is designed to surface it early.
4. Do I need to quit my job?
No. Many participants are still employed.
The system is built to work alongside employment.
5. What makes this different from startup accelerators?
Accelerators focus on scaling.Ignition focuses on validation before scaling.
No pitch decks. No demo days. No vanity metrics. Only evidence.
6. Is this a cohort or self-paced?
Ignition runs in structured cycles with defined weekly milestones.
Deadlines create discipline.
7. What if I’m not accepted?
Then it likely means:
The timing is wrong
The commitment level is insufficient
Or the idea needs more clarity firstYou can always reapply.
8. How much does it cost?
2497 EUR inc VAT. This is an investment in structured clarity. The cost of misdirected building is typically far higher.
​
9. What happens after Ignition?
You will leave with one of three outcomes:
• Clear go signal
• Clear pivot direction
• Clear stop decision
All three are valuable.
Some founders continue into structured build support.
Others proceed independently with confidence.
If you want disciplined validation instead of prolonged uncertainty, join and