SERIES: Entrepreneurship and Innovation

S1-S3

60–90 minutes

Testing Your Idea

Entrepreneurs do not need to know that an idea will work before starting. They do need ways to learn before committing too much time, money or effort. You will identify risky assumptions, design a small experiment, collect evidence and decide what should change next. By the end of this challenge you will: Identify the […]

Testing Your Idea

Your Mission

Stop arguing that your idea will work and run a small test that can prove you wrong.

You will identify risky assumptions, design a focused experiment, collect evidence and change the idea based on what you learn.

The Shape of This Challenge

Discover

✏️ ️ Notice & question

Explore

️ Investigate & test

Create

✏️ Make & communicate

Reflect

️ Think & apply

Discover

Start by finding the assumptions hiding underneath the idea.

Step 1

What Must Be True?

✏️ Assumption hunt · 8–10 mins

We are learning to identify the assumptions that sit underneath a business idea.

An idea can sound convincing while depending on several things that have never been tested.

Your Task

Write your proposed solution in one sentence.
Complete five statements beginning This only works if…
Label each assumption customer, problem, solution, behaviour or delivery.
Circle the assumption that would kill the idea fastest if it were false.

I can identify and prioritise risky assumptions behind an idea.

→ This gives you one clear thing to test instead of trying to prove the whole idea at once.

Critical ThinkingEntrepreneurshipProblem Solving

Step 2

Choose the Smallest Useful Test

️ Experiment design · 8–10 mins

We are learning to design a small experiment that produces useful evidence.

A test is not a smaller version of the final business. It is the cheapest credible way to learn something important.

Your Task

Write your riskiest assumption as a yes/no or measurable question.
Choose a test: paper prototype, fake-door page, roleplay, interview, price test, mock-up or manual service.
Define what evidence would support the assumption.
Define what result would make you change direction.

I can design a small test with a clear learning goal and decision rule.

→ This becomes the experiment you will evaluate in Step 3.

Critical ThinkingProblem SolvingEntrepreneurship

Explore

Run the smallest useful test and separate evidence from interpretation.

Step 3

Run or Simulate the Test

Choose your route · 12–20 mins

We are learning to collect evidence from a focused idea test.

The goal is not to convince testers that your idea is brilliant. The goal is to learn where your assumptions are wrong.

Your Task

Use your experiment plan from Step 2.
Complete one route.
Record what people actually did or said, not just your impression.
Separate evidence from interpretation.

⚡ Quick Track

Run a small teacher-approved test with 3–5 people or peers. Ask behaviour-focused questions and record one surprising response.

Dig Deeper

If live testing is not possible, build a realistic prototype/mock-up and run a structured peer critique: each reviewer must identify one clear benefit, one confusion and one reason they might not use/pay for it.

I can collect and record useful evidence from a small idea test.

→ This gives you evidence for deciding what to change.

ResearchEntrepreneurshipCommunication

Step 4

Change the Idea, Not the Evidence

️ Evidence review · 10–12 mins

We are learning to use test evidence to decide whether to persevere, adapt or pivot.

Testing is wasted if every response is explained away. The founder’s job is to update the idea when evidence disagrees.

Your Task

Create three columns: Expected, Observed, What changes?
Add at least three findings from the test.
Choose whether to keep, change or remove one part of the idea.
Write the next assumption you would test.

I can use evidence to make a specific change to an idea.

→ This gives your final experiment report a genuine learning outcome.

Critical ThinkingSelf-ManagementEntrepreneurship

Create & Share

Create a clear test-and-learn report showing what changed.

Step 5

Create an Experiment Report

✏️ Analyse · Create · 25–35 mins

We are learning to communicate what an idea test taught me and what I would do next.

A useful experiment report shows the assumption, test, evidence and decision. It does not pretend a tiny test proves the whole business will succeed.

Your Task

State the assumption and why it mattered.
Explain the test and who/what was involved.
Show at least three findings.
State what you changed and the next assumption to test.
Choose one output below.

Experiment Report

1 page · 250–300 words

⏱ 25–30 mins

Use four sections: Assumption, Test, Evidence, Decision.

Test and Learn Briefing

4 slides · maximum 30 words per slide

⏱ 30–35 mins

Show what you expected, what happened, what changed and what comes next.

Founder Learning Update

90 seconds final runtime

⏱ 30–35 mins

Explain the most important thing the test taught you and how the idea changed.

I can create a concise experiment report showing evidence and a decision.

→ This is your finished mission output.

Critical ThinkingEntrepreneurshipCommunication

Step 6

Reflect, Apply, Look Forward

️ Think or discuss · 5–8 mins

We are learning to reflect on learning through evidence rather than defending an idea.

The next challenge turns the tested idea into a business model: how value is delivered, who is involved and how the venture sustains itself.

Your Task

Answer the three prompts.
Name one part of your idea you are now less certain about.
Name one part you have stronger evidence for.

Reflect

What was the hardest evidence to accept?

Apply

Where could rapid testing save time in school, work or creative projects?

Look Forward

How could AI help create prototypes while still leaving real user evidence essential?

I can explain how testing can improve an idea without proving it is guaranteed to succeed.

→ You now have evidence strong enough to start modelling how the venture could work.

ReflectionCritical ThinkingEntrepreneurship

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TOOLKIT

Choose Your Tools

Use the tools available to you. Strong thinking matters more than a particular app.

Prototype

Use paper sketches, Canva, slides, forms, no-code tools or simple mock-ups. The prototype only needs to test the riskiest assumption.

Feedback

Use teacher-approved interviews, anonymous forms or peer testing. Ask behaviour-focused questions rather than ‘Do you like my idea?’

Analyse

Use a simple table: Assumption / Test / Evidence / What changed.

Educator / Parent Notes

Age, Stage and Prior Learning: Designed for S1–S3. Learners can test fictional or real ideas. Any testing involving people should follow the setting's consent and safeguarding expectations.

Before You Start: Keep tests small. The aim is learning, not launching a business or collecting large amounts of personal data.

How to Open This: Ask: “What would have to be true for your idea to work?” Keep asking until assumptions become visible.

Scheduling: Steps 1–4 need 40–50 minutes if a live test is possible; Step 5 needs 25–35 minutes.

If a Pupil Gets Stuck: Provide an idea and three pre-written assumptions. Let the learner choose one and run a structured peer critique.

For Fast Finishers: Ask learners to design two different tests for the same assumption and compare cost, speed and strength of evidence.

Marking Guidance: Look for a clear assumption, logical test, observable evidence, willingness to adapt and appropriate caution about what a small test can prove.

Testing Your Idea

Testing Your Idea

Discover

What Must Be True?

Choose the Smallest Useful Test

Explore

Run or Simulate the Test

Change the Idea, Not the Evidence

Create & Share

Create an Experiment Report

Reflect, Apply, Look Forward

Show What You Have Learned

Prototype

Feedback

Analyse

Show What You Have Learned

Prototype

Feedback

Analyse

TOOLKIT

Prototype

Feedback

Analyse

Educator / Parent Notes

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