Assignment: Human-Centered Design and Social Entrepreneurship
Objective
This assignment helps startup founders apply human-centered design (HCD) to develop socially impactful businesses. You will answer key questions that guide you through defining a problem, ideating solutions, and developing a sustainable business model.
Instructions
- Answer each section in bullet points or short paragraphs (2–5 sentences each).
- Keep responses concise and focused on your startup.
- Use real examples from your startup’s industry or target audience.
Assignment Questions
1. Identifying a Social Problem
(a) What is the social problem your startup aims to solve?
👉 Describe the problem in 2–3 sentences. Be specific.
(b) Which UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) does this align with?
👉 Choose 1–2 SDGs that your startup contributes to.
(c) Who is affected by this problem?
👉 List your target users and beneficiaries.
2. Understanding Users (Empathy Phase)
(a) What insights have you gathered from potential users or customers?
👉 Summarise 2–3 key insights from user interviews, surveys, or secondary research.
(b) What are the main pain points they experience?
👉 List 3–5 challenges your users face related to the problem.
(c) Createa short user persona
👉 Example:
Name: Thabo (Community Health Worker)
Age: 32
Challenges: Lacks a reliable system to track patient data in rural areas.
Needs: A mobile-friendly tool for easy data collection.
3. Ideation & Solution Development
(a) What solution does your startup provide?
👉 Describe your product/service in 2–3 sentences.
(b) How does this solution directly address the problem?
👉 Explain how your startup improves the lives of your users.
(c) What makes your solution unique?
👉 List 2–3 differentiators from competitors.
(d) Have you tested a prototype or MVP? If yes, what did you learn?
👉 Share quick insights from testing or pilot studies.
4. Business Model & Financial Sustainability
(a) Who will pay for your product/service?
👉 Describe your paying customers and revenue streams.
(b) How will you sustain operations financially while maintaining social impact?
👉 Example: We use a cross-subsidy model where corporate clients fund free services for low-income users.
(c) What partnerships or resources do you need to scale?
👉 List key partnerships, funding, or technology needs.
5. Measuring Social Impact
(a) What specific impact do you want to achieve?
👉 Example: Reduce maternal mortality rates by 30% in rural clinics using our app.
(b) What impact metrics will you track?
👉 List 2–3 measurable KPIs (e.g., number of beneficiaries reached, reduction in waste, jobs created).
(c) How will you ensure continuous improvement based on user feedback?
Describe your feedback loop (e.g., regular surveys, A/B testing, advisory board).
6. Pitch Deck (Optional but Recommended)
Create a 5–7 slide pitch deck- covering:
- Problem Statement
- User Insights
- Solution Overview
- Business Model
- Impact Measurement
- Call to Action (Funding/Partnerships Needed)
Submission: Not required
Keep answer short and to the point
Due Date: None
