Expert Fly-In

• Pre-product development stage when validating core business assumptions and market opportunities • Before major pivot decisions to get expert perspective on new directions or market segments • When entering regulated industries like healthcare, fintech, or aerospace where expert knowledge is crucial • For B2B solutions where understanding enterprise buyer behavior and procurement processes is essential • When developing deep-tech products requiring specialized technical validation from industry veterans • Before seeking Series A funding to stress-test your business model with experienced professionals • When expanding to new markets where local expertise and cultural insights are needed

1. Define objectives and scope - Clearly outline what aspects you want validated (problem, solution, market size, business model) and create specific questions for each area

2. Identify and recruit experts - Target 5-10 industry veterans, successful entrepreneurs, potential customers, and technical specialists. Offer compensation (€500-1000) plus travel expenses

3. Prepare comprehensive materials - Create executive summary, product demos, market analysis, business model canvas, and competitive landscape overview for expert review

4. Design structured agenda - Plan 4-8 hour session with problem presentation (1 hour), solution demo (1-2 hours), business model discussion (2 hours), and open feedback (2-3 hours)

5. Facilitate focused discussions - Use experienced moderator to guide conversations, ensure all experts contribute, and prevent groupthink or dominant personalities from hijacking sessions

6. Document insights systematically - Record sessions (with permission), assign note-takers, and use structured templates to capture feedback on viability, feasibility, and commercial potential

7. Conduct follow-up interviews - Schedule 30-minute one-on-one calls with each expert within 48 hours to clarify feedback and explore specific recommendations

8. Synthesize and prioritize findings - Analyze feedback patterns, identify consensus areas, highlight conflicting opinions, and create actionable next steps based on expert recommendations

Pros

• High-quality insights - Access to deep industry knowledge and experience that would take years to develop internally • Rapid validation - Get comprehensive feedback on multiple aspects of your business in a single intensive session • Network expansion - Build relationships with industry experts who can become advisors, customers, or connectors • Bias detection - External experts can identify blind spots and challenge founder assumptions objectively • Credibility boost - Expert endorsement can strengthen investor pitches and customer acquisition efforts

Cons

• High cost - Expert fees plus travel expenses can quickly reach €5000-8000 for a full session • Scheduling complexity - Coordinating calendars of busy experts can take weeks or months to arrange • Expert bias - Past experiences may color judgment and lead to overly conservative or industry-specific recommendations • Groupthink risk - Dominant personalities or consensus pressure may suppress diverse viewpoints • Limited actionability - High-level strategic feedback may lack specific implementation guidance