Self-Assessment Tool – Entrepreneurial Maturity

1. How to Use the Self Assessment in the DeepTech Toolbox

The self assessment is your starting point to understand where you are in your entrepreneurial journey and what you need to develop next. It helps you identify your current level of skills, confidence, and readiness to work on deep tech ideas, guiding you to the right resources and activities within the Toolbox.

1. Identify Your Current Stage

Begin by reflecting honestly on your experience with entrepreneurship. Use the self assessment questions to determine which of the five maturity stages best describes you:

• No idea, no experience – you are just starting to explore entrepreneurship.
• Some idea, no experience – you have a concept but limited business understanding.
• Some idea, some experience – you have undertaken initial planning or research.
• Business model – you are testing ideas and preparing for launch.
• A company – you are running an early stage venture and focusing on growth.

2. Complete the Questionnaire

Answer the assessment questions based on your current situation. Think about your knowledge of business basics, your confidence in pitching ideas, your experience with market research, and your familiarity with innovation ecosystems. Your answers will help pinpoint strengths and areas for improvement.

3. Analyse Your Results

Once you complete the self assessment, the Toolbox will place you in one of the five stages. This stage reflects where you currently stand and helps you prioritise the next steps:

• If you are at an early stage, focus on introductory materials and exercises that help you understand core business concepts.
• If you are at a later stage, concentrate on practical planning tools, market validation resources, and connections to support networks.
• Answer the optional question.

4.  Navigate to Relevant Resources

Use your stage result to explore tailored content within the Toolbox. Each stage groups resources that match your development needs:

• Think — tools for reflection and idea exploration.
• Learn — curated learning materials and guidance.
• Act — practical exercises, real world examples, and recommended actions.

5. Plan Your Next Steps

Based on your self assessment, set clear goals for what you want to learn or do next. For example, if you are in the “Some idea, no experience” stage, you might select exercises on customer discovery or participate in relevant workshops. As you grow, repeat the self assessment to track your progress and update your development path.

2. BSR DeepTech Toolbox – Self-Assessment Questionnaire

Purpose: To help you identify your current entrepreneurial maturity and guide your next steps.

Instructions:
• Answer honestly.
• Each answer has a score from 1 (low) to 5 (high).
• Add up your total score at the end.
• Use the total score to determine your entrepreneurial stage.
• Follow Toolbox resources according to your stage.

1. Do you currently have a technology/research idea you want to develop?

1 – No idea
2 – Very vague idea
3 – Some idea, under initial exploration
4 – Idea developed, preparing a business model
5 – Actively developing a startup

2.  How motivated are you to explore entrepreneurship?

1 – Not at all
2 – Slightly
3 – Moderately
4 – Highly
5 – Fully committed

3. How confident are you in basic business concepts (markets, customers, value proposition)?

1 – None
2 – Minimal
3 – Some
4 – Good
5 – Excellent

4.  How familiar are you with innovation ecosystems and available support (incubators, accelerators, mentors)?

1 – Not at all
2 – Slightly
3 – Moderately
4 – Well familiar
5 – Fully integrated

5.  How comfortable are you with planning, funding, or IP considerations?

1 – Not at all
2 – Minimal understanding
3 – Some understanding
4 – Good understanding
5 – Fully confident

6.  Have you tested or prototyped your idea?

1 – No
2 – Informal/very small experiments
3 – Initial prototype or concept validation
4 – Tested with users/customers
5 – Working prototype or product launched

7.  Have you engaged with mentors, industry experts, or support organisations?

1 – No
2 – Minimal contact
3 – Occasional guidance
4 – Regular mentoring/support
5 – Fully integrated support network

8. How structured is your plan to move from idea to implementation?

1 – None
2 – Minimal
3 – Some outline
4 – Detailed plan
5 – Fully operational plan

9. How comfortable are you with taking entrepreneurial decisions and risks?

1 – Not comfortable
2 – Slightly
3 – Moderately
4 – Comfortable
5 – Very comfortable

Scoring:

Add up all your answers (1–5 for each question; 9 questions → minimum 9, maximum 45 points)

Stage Assignment ():

Stage 1: No idea, no experience (9–15 points)

You are just beginning to explore entrepreneurship. Focus on understanding what entrepreneurship means and reflect on your motivations. Start with introductory Think and Learn activities in the Toolbox, such as exploring inspiring examples and self-reflection exercises.

Stage 2: Some idea, no experience (16–22 points)

You have an initial idea but limited experience. Prioritize clarifying your concept and gaining basic business knowledge. Use Learn resources for fundamentals and Act exercises to test small ideas or gather informal feedback.

Stage 3: Some idea, some experience (23–29 points)

You have conducted initial research or planning. Strengthen your understanding of markets, funding options, and team building. Engage in Act exercises like prototyping, pitching, or simple market tests to validate your idea.

Stage 4: Business model development (30–37 points)

You are actively developing your business model. Focus on feasibility, refining value propositions, and preparing for early implementation. Explore advanced Toolbox resources, connect with mentors, incubators, and pilot your solutions.

Stage 5: Running a company / growth (38–45 points)

You are running a startup or preparing for launch. Concentrate on scaling, partnerships, and sustainable growth. Use Toolbox resources to strengthen leadership skills, internationalisation strategies, and expand your professional network.

Optional Section 5: Toolbox Guidance

After completing the self-assessment, answer:

1. Which areas do you feel you need most support in? (Select all that apply)

• ❏ Understanding basic business concepts
• ❏ Developing my idea into a feasible plan
• ❏ Testing or prototyping my idea
• ❏ Connecting with mentors, incubators, or networks
• ❏ Preparing to launch a startup

Purpose: Based on your answers and your stage, find in  the Toolbox the Stage‑Structured Resource Modules that are most relevant to your needs. Each module contains curated resources and exercises (Think, Learn, Act) to help you develop the skills and knowledge required at your stage. Your stage indicates which modules you should focus on. The Stage‑Structured Resource Modules provide targeted resources and exercises for your current level, ensuring you build the right skills, practice effectively, and progress to the next stage.

Next Steps:

• Navigate the Toolbox according to your stage:
  • • Think: Reflect on your motivation and ideas
    • Learn: Study relevant knowledge, examples, and resources
    • Act: Practice exercises, role-play, and prototype development
• Reassess periodically to track progress and update your development path.