From research to market — how to build technology that customers actually need

Great technology does not automatically make a great startup. Research-based teams need to understand what customers actually need, identify the assumptions that could make or break their business, and test them as early and efficiently as possible.

In this workshop, we will explore how to balance technology development with rapid market validation. You will learn how to avoid over-engineering, use early prototypes and MVPs to test critical assumptions, and prepare for the often underestimated journey from a successful demonstration to a scalable commercial product.

Learning outcomes

After this workshop, participants will be able to:

- Identify the most critical technology, market, and execution risks behind their innovation.
- Use customer validation to guide technology and product development.
- Understand what an MVP can look like in a deep-tech startup.
- Recognize why moving from a working prototype to a commercial product often takes more time and resources than expected.

Who should attend?

This workshop is intended for Aalto Research to Business (R2B), Aalto Startup Center Business Generator, and ESA BIC Finland teams.

The workshop is particularly valuable for Technology Champions, technical founders, researchers, and other team members responsible for technology and product development. Business Developers are also encouraged to attend, especially when working alongside technical teams to turn research-based innovations into scalable businesses.

These workshops are available for startups in the Aalto Startup Center community, for those in any of the Startup Center Programs (Business Generator, ESA BIC Finland, Research to Business, Aalto Creatives, ESA Phi-Lab Finland).