Assess how digital changes your business model

See how well your idea exploits the unique economics of digital — before you go any further.

Instructions

Before you do anything else with your idea, it's worth checking how digital it actually is. Not 'does it use software' digital — but whether it genuinely depends on the properties that make digital products different from any other kind of business.

Most ideas people describe as digital products are actually just digitised versions of things that already exist. That's not necessarily fatal, but it does matter. An idea that truly exploits the economics of digital — low marginal cost, instant distribution, data that compounds — has structurally different potential than one that just swaps paper for a screen.

This exercise asks you to look your idea in the eye and assess honestly which digital properties it actually relies on, and what kind of business model it most resembles. Do...