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Wade Innovation Toolbox

8 tools across 4 stages. Each stage has a quick option and a deep option. Pete recommends the right tool for you.

Clarify Understand the problem before solving it.

Elevator Pitch Builder

5-10 min · Quick

Articulate your idea in a single clear sentence using a structured framework. Works for startups, corporate initiatives, and social enterprises.

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Five Whys

15 min · Deep

Ask "why?" five times to move past symptoms and find the root cause. From Toyota's production system. Are you sure you understand the problem?

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Ideate Generate possibilities before narrowing focus.

Crazy 8s

15 min · Quick

Generate 8 distinct ideas fast. From Google's Design Sprint. Forces you past the obvious first idea into genuinely creative territory.

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How Might We

20 min · Deep

Reframe your problem from multiple angles using "How might we..." statements, then brainstorm solutions. Stanford d.school's bridge between problem and solution.

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Validate Test your thinking before committing resources.

Pre-Mortem

20 min · Quick

Imagine your idea has failed completely. Work backwards to surface the risks you'd miss from an optimistic mindset. By psychologist Gary Klein.

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Devil's Advocate

25 min · Deep

Pete actively argues against your idea across five dimensions. The toughest challenge in the toolbox. Like a sceptical investor Q&A in a safe environment.

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Develop Turn insight into action.

Effectuation

20 min · Quick

Start with what you have, not what you need. Professor Saras Sarasvathy's framework for entrepreneurial action. What's possible from your skills, network, and resources right now?

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Lean Canvas

20 min · Deep

Map the full business model on one page. 9 blocks covering customers, problem, solution, channels, revenue, costs, metrics, and unfair advantage. By Ash Maurya.

Try Lean Canvas →