_# A Founder’s Checklist – Business Model Design

Once you have validated your value proposition against a genuine market need, your next critical phase is to construct a viable business model. This model serves as the architectural blueprint for how your startup will create, deliver, and capture value. In the competitive Swiss startup ecosystem, where investment reached CHF 1.47 billion in the first half of 2025 1, a robust and logical business model is a prerequisite for you to attract capital and achieve sustainable growth. This guide provides a structured framework to help you design a coherent business model using the globally recognized Business Model Canvas.

Section 1: Blueprinting Your Venture

Your first checkpoint in this phase is to populate the nine building blocks of the Business Model Canvas. This strategic management tool allows you to visualize, design, and challenge your business model on a single page. You must systematically define each component based on your validated value proposition and market research: Customer Segments, the specific groups you aim to serve; Value Propositions, the bundle of products and services that create value; Channels, how you reach your customers; Customer Relationships, the type of relationship each segment expects you to establish; Revenue Streams, how you will generate cash; Key Activities, the most important actions you must perform; Key Resources, the most critical assets you require; Key Partnerships, the external partners and suppliers you need; and the Cost Structure, the most important costs inherent in your model.

The power of the canvas lies in its systemic nature. After populating the blocks, your next step is to ensure system coherence. The right side of the canvas (focused on the customer) must be logically enabled by the left side (focused on your infrastructure), while the bottom two blocks (your financials) must demonstrate a clear path to profitability.

Section 2: Strategic Considerations for the Swiss Market

While the canvas is universal, certain blocks require your special attention within the context of the Swiss economic environment. A key strategic checkpoint for you is to leverage the Swiss partnership ecosystem. For the Key Partnerships block, you should actively explore collaborations within Switzerland’s dense innovation network, which includes world-class universities like ETH Zurich and EPFL, research institutions, and established corporations. Such partnerships can accelerate your R&D, provide access to specialized infrastructure, and offer a crucial channel for market validation.

Furthermore, it is essential that you adopt a value-based pricing strategy. In a high-cost country like Switzerland, competing on price is rarely a sustainable strategy for you. For the Revenue Streams block, you should focus on quantifying the economic benefit your solution provides—such as cost savings, revenue increases, or risk reduction—to justify a premium price. The prevalence of successful B2B and SaaS models in Switzerland underscores this focus on high-value solutions.

Finally, your business model must be structured for scalability and investment. Investors seek defensible models with a clear path to growth. The recent doubling of investment in AI-related startups in Switzerland highlights a demand for tech-driven, high-growth ventures 2. You must ensure your model, particularly your revenue streams and cost structure, demonstrates a clear path to profitable scaling. Recurring revenue models, like subscriptions, are often viewed more favorably than one-time transaction revenues.

Section 3: From Blueprint to Testable Hypotheses

A completed Business Model Canvas is not your final plan; it is a set of assumptions that you must rigorously test. Your next checkpoint is to explicitly state all your core hypotheses. This involves going through each entry on your canvas and rephrasing it as a testable statement. For example, the entry “Subscription Fees” under Revenue Streams becomes the hypothesis: “My target customer segment is willing to pay a recurring monthly fee for my solution.”

Once articulated, you must prioritize these hypotheses for testing. Not all assumptions are equally critical. You should rank them based on two criteria: the degree to which your business would fail if the assumption is false, and the degree of uncertainty surrounding it. The assumptions that are most critical and most uncertain should be the ones you test first.

Navigating the complexities of business model design can be challenging. For you as a founder seeking expert guidance, Innosuisse offers dedicated support. The Innosuisse Startup Coaching program connects entrepreneurs like you with seasoned coaches who provide personalized support in refining your business model, challenging your assumptions, and preparing for investor diligence. This hands-on support is instrumental in translating a promising blueprint into a fundable and operational business.

With a completed canvas and a prioritized list of hypotheses, you are now prepared for the final and most crucial phase: business model testing. The next guide in this series will provide a framework for you to design and run experiments to validate these assumptions.