A proof of concept is a document that provides a visual representation of what your idea is and how it would work. It’s a tangible way to show off your idea to a potential collaborator, investor, or customer. Therefore, it shows how a pilot project might help a larger project scale if there is “proof” that the first concept worked out.

What is a proof of concept and why is it so important in business?

In simple terms, a proof of concept is a document that allows to get an idea funded, either by an investor, partner or perhaps to a potential customer.

The idea of the proof of concept is to simplify your project, at the point of creating a smaller, viable one, that can prove the viability of a larger project, with less risk, budget, and a more focused timeline.

In fact, in most cases, in business ideas fail because there is not enough interest from the market, or because the timing is wrong, or perhaps the team, funding and business model aren’t good enpough.

Thus, a proof of concept helps business people simplify a larger, and more ambitious project, into something that can be tested in a shorter time span and with less effort, in terms of budget and time.

How to create a simple proof of concept

There isn’t a sinlge way to create a proof of concept. It all starts by understanding what’s a minimum viable option that will proof the project successful and therefore it will help us scale the overall project.

However, where a minimum viable product has the scope of defining whether there is a market for an idea, thus scoping that market, and deliver a fully functional (yet minimal) product. A proof of concept is more focused on understanding whether that is a good idea in the first place.

Therefore, it starts by narrowing down what’s the fastest and simplest way to prove whether the idea is feasable in the first place.

Related:

Key takeaways

• In business, a proof of concept is critical to validate an idea. Therefore it helps achieve a better understanding of whether to undertake a larger project.
• A minimum viable product instead is the complete version of your product that is good enough to attract its potential audience and improve on that.

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