IDEA TO OPPORTUNITY

Could this be the year you actually do something with that idea?

Maybe you’ve had an idea bubbling away for a while. Maybe you’ve started something, but it hasn’t quite got moving. Or you’ve reached the point where you want to find out whether there really is a business in it.

Idea to Opportunity is for people who are pre-start or in the very early stages of building a new business.

Over three weeks, we’ll help you get out of your own head and properly work through the idea: who it’s for, what problem you’re solving, what you know, what you’re assuming and what the business around it could look like.

You’ll test your thinking, build your Value Proposition Canvas and Business Model Canvas, and learn how to talk about your idea clearly and confidently.
By the end, you should have a much clearer answer to two questions:

Is there a business here? And if there is, what do I do next?

You’ll work alongside other people at a similar stage, with time between sessions to test things, have conversations and let your thinking develop.

THE PROGRAMME

Session 1 - 9:30am - 12:30pm, Thu 26th November 2026 | Bath innovation centre

Who is it for and why should they care?

We’ll start with our Ideas Lab, a fast, creative way to get everyone thinking about people, problems and possible solutions.

Then we’ll turn to your idea.

Who is your customer? What problem are you solving? And why should they care?

We’ll use the Value Proposition Canvas to put some structure around your thinking and start separating what you know from what you’re assuming.

You’ll leave with a clearer proposition and some things you need to find out.

Your next step: take your thinking outside the room. Have some conversations, test an assumption and see what you learn.

Session 2 - 9:30am - 12:30pm, Thu 3rd DECEMBER 2026 | Bath innovation centre

What do you know, and what are you still guessing?

We’ll start with what you discovered.

Then we’ll look at the assumptions underneath your idea. Which ones matter most? Which could change everything if they turn out not to be true? And how can you test them without spending months or a fortune finding out?

Then we’ll introduce the Business Model Canvas.

You won’t have every answer. You’re not supposed to. We’ll use it to start building a picture of how your business could work, where you’re getting clarity and where there are still gaps.

Your next step: test another important assumption and keep developing your business model.

Session 3 - 9:30am - 4:30pm, Thu 10th DECEMBER 2026 | Bath innovation centre

Build it. Tell it. Test it.

This is where everything comes together.

In the morning - we’ll work on your business model and what you’ve learned over the previous two weeks.

Then we’ll turn it into a story.

You’ll build a short pitch, practise it, get feedback and learn how to explain what you’re doing, who it’s for and why it matters.

In the afternoon - we’ll bring more people into the room.

You’ll have a series of short conversations with founders, business people, experts and others from the wider startup community. It’s a chance to put your pitch into practice, hear different perspectives, ask questions and make useful connections.

No pitch competition. No Dragon’s Den. Just useful conversations that help you get better at explaining what you’re building and thinking about where it could go.

By the end of the day, you should be able to talk about your idea with far more clarity and confidence.

More importantly, you should know what you need to do next.

What you’ll leave with

You’ll leave with:

- a clearer understanding of your customer and the problem you’re solving

- a Value Proposition Canvas

- the foundations of your Business Model Canvas

- a clearer view of the assumptions behind your idea and how to test them

- a short pitch you’ve actually practised with real people

- feedback, new connections and different perspectives on your idea

- a much clearer idea of what to do next

Is it for me?

Idea to Opportunity is designed for people who are pre-start or very early stage.

You might be developing a new product or service, working in technology, engineering, energy, health or life sciences, or have spotted an opportunity through an industry you already know well.

You might still be wondering whether there really is a business in your idea. Or you might have already started and realised there are some important questions about your customer, proposition or business model that you haven’t answered.

That’s exactly the stage we want to work with.

We’re looking for ideas with the potential to develop and grow, but we don’t expect you to know exactly what that looks like yet.

You don’t need a business plan. You don’t need a polished pitch. You don’t need to have all the answers.

And you don’t need to call yourself an entrepreneur. Although if you do, you’re very welcome too.

Dates & Location

Session 1: Thu, 26th November 2026 from 9:30am - 12:30pm
Session 2: Thu, 3rd December 2026 from 9:30am - 12:30pm
Session 3: Thu, 10th December 2026 from 9:30am - 4:30pm

Location: SETsquared Bath, University of Bath Innovation Centre, Bath

FAQ