Prototyping-Driven Entrepreneurship: Towards a Prototyping Support Tool Based on Design Thinking Principles

Abstract

The complexities and unique requirements of entrepreneurship and commercialization require novel prototyping approaches that go beyond their traditional application in engineering design. Prototyping, as a key part of Design Thinking, can address these requirements by focusing on creative problem-solving and by supporting entrepreneurs’ reasoning. The broader requirements of entrepreneurship are not explicitly addressed in existing prototyping tools and instances of inefficient prototyping are still observed in entrepreneurial settings. This paper presents insights from expert interviews concerning prototyping and entrepreneurship, along with the formulation of the foundations of a novel prototyping support tool, tailored for entrepreneurs. Prototyping’s approaches and challenges, user-prototype interactions, and prototypes’ role in funding attraction are among the discussed themes.