Our open Q&A session this week ran through a genuinely wide range of questions, exactly the kind of session it's designed to be. With no set agenda, we just begin with whatever is on people's minds. If you missed it, our next session is next Wednesday morning at the same starting time of 10am. Let's recap on discussions this week...
On innovation, R&D and IP
A good chunk of the session was spent unpicking what actually counts as innovation for the purposes of your endorsement, and how that differs from what counts as research and development when you reach settlement. It's a distinction that trips a lot of founders up, since the two get used interchangeably in everyday conversation but mean quite different things to an endorsing body. We also talked through IP, what protecting the outcome of your work actually looks like, and why that matters more the closer you get to your ILR application.
On timescales, and getting the paperwork right
Timing came up a lot too, how long each stage of the process realistically takes, and where people commonly underestimate it. We pointed people toward our executive guides for a proper breakdown of what to expect at each stage, and talked through how to book a one to one session if you want something more specific to your own circumstances than an open group call can cover.
On business plans
This is always a popular topic, and this week was no exception. We covered what actually makes a business plan solid in the eyes of an endorsing body, not just what it needs to contain, but how it needs to be argued. Length came up too, there's no magic page count, but there is a point where a plan becomes too thin to demonstrate real thinking, and a point where padding starts working against you rather than for you. If you want the full detail, our business planning guide walks through this properly.
On building with a co-founder
We also spent some time on how having multiple founders changes the shape of an application, how it's assessed differently, and what tends to make multi-founder applications succeed or stumble. It's a question that comes up often, and one worth asking early rather than assuming it works the same way as a solo application.
On getting the most out of Pulse
A few people asked how to make better use of what's already available to them, so we talked through Pulse membership, what it unlocks, and how to find your way around the library of articles and guides already sitting there waiting to be used.
Didn't catch this one? There's another chance on the 9th
Our next open Q&A runs on Wednesday 9th September from 10 until 11am UK time. Same format, no agenda decided in advance, just bring whatever's on your mind and we'll work through it with you live. It's open to all registered members, and registration is required through Zoom. Do bear in mind we can't comment on the specifics of a single application in an open session like this, but we can absolutely help you understand how things work and where to go next.
Innovator International
Whether you're just starting to explore the Innovator Founder route or already deep into building your business, it's exactly the kind of session worth an hour of your morning.
