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New Product Validation: How do I validate an idea when my target market (big companies) are unavailable to talk to me?
CI
CI
Criss Ittermann, Revolutionary Brainstormer/Business Coaching answered:

First, perhaps you're overreaching. Do you have proof of concept or not? If you don't then you need to work your way up the ladder. Try dropping your target 2 levels down at first, and as you build up a roster of "wins" start to set your sights on higher and higher levels of business. If 2 levels down is still impossible to reach, then you may need to go even lower down.

And at least some of the issue is that you haven't gotten creative enough with how you're looking. You're saying you can't even find a name in the organization? You need to know which department you need to get in front of. Then you have to do some Sherlock Holmes tricks to find names within the organization. Now, you need to figure out how to get an introduction to the people behind those names.

Negativity will get you nowhere. This is an exciting adventure. If it's so easy to get an interview with the Queen — if that's where your social circles go — then I bet that she could make some introductions for you. If not, you have to look from where you are now to a path to where you want to go, and stop trying to skip ahead. Find the person who knows/likes/trusts you with the highest ranking business in your circle of influence, and get into THEIR company to prove what you do. Then ask them to recommend 3 of their suppliers, collaborators or allies in the business world to recommend you to. Climb the ladder.

I help people with business brainstorming sessions — strategy and creativity. I may not be the right fit for you if you want to come up with ideas and strategies, but hopefully these ideas are helpful to get you moving. Oh, and having said that — get moving and keep moving. No more negativity because that shuts down your creativity and makes you feel helpless. You're not helpless. Start from where you are, the reach you already have, then STRETCH that reach. Stop trying to teleport to somewhere where you have no influence.

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