We recently supported a development session for a global market leader in apparel fastening products, designed to strengthen participants’ ability to generate innovative ideas and evaluate their commercial viability from a financial perspective.
After learning fundamental financial concepts such as break-even analysis and return on investment (ROI), participants worked in teams to develop new product and service ideas that could create significant value in the future.
The challenge went beyond simply generating creative ideas. Each team was required to prepare a comprehensive business proposal covering customer value, development costs, revenue potential, and overall profitability—all within a limited timeframe.
For the final exercise, participants presented their proposals to senior executives and managers, who took on the role of investors. Using AI effectively, each team rapidly refined its proposal and delivered an investment pitch. The executive panel then evaluated the presentations and selected the projects they would be willing to invest in, creating a highly realistic and engaging decision-making experience.
Despite the limited preparation time, the teams produced highly original and well-developed proposals grounded in clear customer needs. Both the facilitator and the judging panel were impressed by the overall quality of the presentations.
The session provided future business leaders with a valuable opportunity to experience the practical challenges of developing a commercially viable business idea, persuading senior decision-makers, and making investment-oriented decisions.
