design-business-model

Name: design-business-model
Rating: 5 (14 reviews)
Author: ThepExcel

by @ThepExcel in AI & LLM

# Install this skill:

npx skills add ThepExcel/agent-skills --skill "design-business-model"

Install specific skill from multi-skill repository

# Description

Business model design and validation using Business Model Canvas, Lean Canvas, and Value Proposition Canvas. Use when designing new business models, validating startup ideas, achieving product-market fit, or innovating existing business models.

# SKILL.md

name: design-business-model
description: Business model design and validation using Business Model Canvas, Lean Canvas, and Value Proposition Canvas. Use when designing new business models, validating startup ideas, achieving product-market fit, or innovating existing business models.

Business Model Frameworks

Design, visualize, and validate business models.

Quick Start

Choose framework - Based on your situation
Fill canvas - Use structured approach below
Validate - Test assumptions with customers
Iterate - Refine based on learning

Framework Selection

Situation	Use This
Existing business - understand or optimize current model	Business Model Canvas
Startup/New idea - validate quickly, test assumptions	Lean Canvas
Product-market fit - ensure value matches customer needs	Value Proposition Canvas
Innovation - transform existing business	Business Model Canvas + Blue Ocean

The Three Canvases

1. Business Model Canvas (BMC)

For established businesses or comprehensive business design.

Full details: references/business-model-canvas.md

┌─────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬─────────────┐
│             │            │            │            │             │
│    Key      │    Key     │   Value    │  Customer  │   Customer  │
│  Partners   │ Activities │Proposition │Relationships│  Segments   │
│             │            │            │            │             │
│             ├────────────┤            ├────────────┤             │
│             │            │            │            │             │
│             │    Key     │            │  Channels  │             │
│             │ Resources  │            │            │             │
│             │            │            │            │             │
├─────────────┴────────────┴────────────┴────────────┴─────────────┤
│                          │                                        │
│       Cost Structure     │              Revenue Streams           │
│                          │                                        │
└──────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────┘

2. Lean Canvas

For startups and new ventures - focus on problem/solution fit.

Full details: references/lean-canvas.md

┌─────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬────────────┬─────────────┐
│             │            │            │            │             │
│   Problem   │  Solution  │  Unique    │   Unfair   │  Customer   │
│   (Top 3)   │  (Top 3)   │   Value    │  Advantage │  Segments   │
│             │            │Proposition │            │             │
│             ├────────────┤            ├────────────┤             │
│             │            │            │            │             │
│             │    Key     │            │  Channels  │             │
│             │  Metrics   │            │            │             │
│             │            │            │            │             │
├─────────────┴────────────┴────────────┴────────────┴─────────────┤
│                          │                                        │
│       Cost Structure     │              Revenue Streams           │
│                          │                                        │
└──────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────┘

3. Value Proposition Canvas (VPC)

Zoom into Customer Segments + Value Proposition from BMC.

Full details: references/value-proposition-canvas.md

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                                                 │
│   VALUE MAP                         CUSTOMER PROFILE            │
│   ┌─────────────┐                   ┌─────────────┐            │
│   │   Products  │                   │    Gains    │            │
│   │  & Services │                   │             │            │
│   ├─────────────┤     FIT?          ├─────────────┤            │
│   │    Gain     │ ◄──────────────►  │    Jobs     │            │
│   │  Creators   │                   │  (To Be Done)│            │
│   ├─────────────┤                   ├─────────────┤            │
│   │    Pain     │                   │    Pains    │            │
│   │  Relievers  │                   │             │            │
│   └─────────────┘                   └─────────────┘            │
│                                                                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Canvas Comparison

Aspect	Business Model Canvas	Lean Canvas	Value Proposition Canvas
Creator	Osterwalder & Pigneur	Ash Maurya	Osterwalder
Focus	Comprehensive business model	Problem-solution validation	Product-market fit
Best for	Established business	Startups, new ideas	Deep customer understanding
Unique blocks	Partners, Relationships	Problem, Unfair Advantage	Gains, Pains, Jobs
Time to fill	1-2 hours	20-30 minutes	30-60 minutes

Workflow Recommendation

For New Business Idea

1. Lean Canvas (20 min)
   ↓
2. Value Proposition Canvas (for top segment)
   ↓
3. Customer interviews (validate)
   ↓
4. Iterate Lean Canvas
   ↓
5. Business Model Canvas (when scaling)

For Existing Business Innovation

1. Business Model Canvas (current state)
   ↓
2. Value Proposition Canvas (problem areas)
   ↓
3. Lean Canvas (for new initiatives)
   ↓
4. Business Model Canvas (future state)

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Starting with solution	Start with customer problems
One customer segment	Be specific, narrow first
Vague value proposition	Use customer's words
Untested assumptions	Validate with real customers
Static canvas	Update regularly
Working alone	Collaborate, get diverse input

Output Template

When presenting canvas analysis:

## Business Model: [Name]

### Canvas Type: [BMC/Lean/VPC]

### Key Insights
1. [Most important finding]
2. [Second insight]
3. [Third insight]

### Riskiest Assumptions
1. [Assumption that could kill the business]
2. [Second risky assumption]

### Next Steps to Validate
- [ ] [Experiment 1]
- [ ] [Experiment 2]
- [ ] [Customer interview focus]

When	Suggest
Need strategic analysis (SWOT, Porter's)	`/manage-business-strategy`
Stuck, need structured thinking	`/problem-solving` - Polya, 5 Whys
Innovation breakthrough needed	`/triz` - contradiction solving
Need creative ideas for value prop	`/generate-creative-ideas` - divergent thinking

Note: These skills are optional. Design-business-model works standalone for canvas design.

# Supported AI Coding Agents

This skill is compatible with the SKILL.md standard and works with all major AI coding agents:

⚡ Amp 🚀 Antigravity 🤖 Claude Code 🦀 Clawdbot 📝 Codex ▶️ Cursor 🤖 Droid 💎 Gemini CLI 🐙 GitHub Copilot 🪿 Goose 📊 Kilo Code 🔧 Kiro CLI 💻 OpenCode 🦘 Roo Code 🌲 Trae 🏄 Windsurf

Learn more about the SKILL.md standard and how to use these skills with your preferred AI coding agent.