Expert Fly-In
Invite topical experts for a feedback session to evaluate opportunities, problems and ideas.
What is Expert Fly-In?
An Expert Fly-In is a validation technique where startups invite industry experts, thought leaders, and domain specialists to participate in structured feedback sessions to evaluate business opportunities, validate problems, and assess proposed solutions. This method involves bringing together 3-8 experts for intensive workshops, typically lasting 4-8 hours, where they provide critical insights on market viability, technical feasibility, and commercial potential of startup concepts.
This approach is particularly valuable because experts can quickly identify blind spots, validate assumptions, and provide industry-specific knowledge that would take months to acquire independently. The 'fly-in' format creates focused, distraction-free environments where experts can dive deep into your startup concept, challenge assumptions, and provide actionable feedback based on their extensive experience and network connections.
When to Use This Experiment
• 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
How to Run This Experiment
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Define objectives and scope - Clearly outline what aspects you want validated (problem, solution, market size, business model) and create specific questions for each area
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Identify and recruit experts - Target 5-10 industry veterans, successful entrepreneurs, potential customers, and technical specialists. Offer compensation (€500-1000) plus travel expenses
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Prepare comprehensive materials - Create executive summary, product demos, market analysis, business model canvas, and competitive landscape overview for expert review
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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)
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Facilitate focused discussions - Use experienced moderator to guide conversations, ensure all experts contribute, and prevent groupthink or dominant personalities from hijacking sessions
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Document insights systematically - Record sessions (with permission), assign note-takers, and use structured templates to capture feedback on viability, feasibility, and commercial potential
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Conduct follow-up interviews - Schedule 30-minute one-on-one calls with each expert within 48 hours to clarify feedback and explore specific recommendations
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Synthesize and prioritize findings - Analyze feedback patterns, identify consensus areas, highlight conflicting opinions, and create actionable next steps based on expert recommendations
Pros and Cons
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
Real-World Examples
Airbnb conducted expert fly-ins with hospitality industry veterans, real estate professionals, and regulatory experts before expanding internationally. These sessions helped them understand local market dynamics, regulatory requirements, and partnership opportunities that proved crucial for successful market entry.
SpaceX regularly brings together aerospace engineers, former NASA executives, and satellite industry experts to validate new technologies and mission concepts. These expert panels helped validate the commercial viability of reusable rockets and identified key technical challenges before major development investments.
Stripe organized expert sessions with payment industry veterans, compliance specialists, and fintech entrepreneurs when developing their platform. The insights helped them navigate complex regulatory requirements and identify the most valuable features for developer adoption.