Session Details Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM Eastern Time Duration: 90 minutes Format: Zoom Session Type: Expert-Led Workshop + Applied Learning
Building on the frameworks introduced in Session 3, this workshop will focus on proving product-market fit with real customers. Chris Bardos (Product Hackers, DMZ, Foresight) will guide participants through practical approaches to validate assumptions in the field, gather feedback from beachhead customers, and adapt solutions to meet market demands.
In this workshop, participants will:
- Deepen their understanding of customer discovery and validation processes;
- Define and engage a beachhead customer segment;
- Learn how to align product features with customer requirements and expectations;
- Explore practical examples of early-stage validation tactics, including letters of intent, MOUs, and pilot agreements; and
- Understand how to adapt business models when customer feedback reveals unexpected needs or barriers.
The session will also feature a guest innovation leader, sharing perspectives on what industry partners and early customers look for before committing to new solutions. Their insights will help founders avoid common pitfalls and better anticipate requirements for adoption.
A peer discussion and Q&A, facilitated by Chris and Cohort Mentor Dr. Jody Dexter (Bioenterprise), will give participants the chance to share their validation efforts, test their assumptions against cohort feedback, and receive targeted advice on bridging gaps between founder expectations and market realities.
This session is designed to help participants move from theory to practice—proving real-world traction and preparing to scale into Session 6’s focus on financing and pitch readiness.
