Business Model Canvas

# Create a "Business Model Canvas" AI Skill

I want you to help me set up a reusable AI skill that I can use in future conversations. Read the complete skill definition below, then help me install it.

## Complete Skill Definition

# Business Model Canvas

A working Business Model Canvas (BMC) — Alexander Osterwalder's 9-block
strategic management template that captures how an organization creates,
delivers, and captures value.

## When to use this skill

- Designing the **business model** for a new product or company
- Refreshing the BMC after a strategic pivot
- Stress-testing the **assumptions** in an existing model
- Aligning leadership on **how value flows** through the business
- Comparing two or more candidate business models
- Onboarding a new exec / investor to the business

## The 9 building blocks

1. **Customer Segments** — Who do we serve? (mass market, niche, segmented, diversified, multi-sided)
2. **Value Propositions** — What value do we deliver to each segment?
3. **Channels** — How do we reach customers? (own, partner; direct, indirect; physical, digital)
4. **Customer Relationships** — How do we acquire, keep, and grow each segment?
5. **Revenue Streams** — How does the customer pay? (one-time, subscription, usage, licensing, advertising)
6. **Key Resources** — What assets are required? (physical, intellectual, human, financial)
7. **Key Activities** — What do we do to deliver value? (production, problem-solving, platform/network)
8. **Key Partnerships** — Who helps us? (strategic alliances, JVs, supplier relationships)
9. **Cost Structure** — Where do costs come from? (cost-driven vs value-driven; fixed vs variable)

## Clarify First

Before building the canvas, confirm these inputs. If any is unknown or vague, ASK — do not assume:

- [ ] **Customer segment(s)** — who you serve, specifically (drives Value Prop, Channels, Relationships, Revenue — "everyone" collapses the whole canvas)
- [ ] **Revenue model** — how the customer pays: subscription / usage / licensing / advertising (must reconcile against Cost Structure or unit economics break)
- [ ] **Stage** — new model / pivot / mature operating business (determines whether Lean Canvas is the better tool)
- [ ] **Cost-driven vs value-driven posture** — shapes Cost Structure and Key Activities (trying both produces mediocre everything)

Stop rule: ask only the 2-3 that most change the output. If the user says "just draft it," proceed and list your assumptions at the top of the artifact.

## Workflow

### Step 1 — Draft per block
Start with **Customer Segments** and **Value Propositions** (these drive everything else).
Then fill: Channels, Customer Relationships, Revenue Streams. Then: Key Resources,
Activities, Partnerships. Finish with Cost Structure.

### Step 2 — Validate the chain
For each Customer Segment, trace: Segment → Value Prop → Channel → Relationship →
Revenue. If you can't connect these, the model has a gap.

### Step 3 — Stress-test assumptions
For each block, list the top 2-3 assumptions and rate (high / medium / low) on:
- Evidence (do we know this is true?)
- Riskiness (what breaks if wrong?)
- Testability (can we run a cheap experiment?)

### Step 4 — Run `canvas_validator.py`
Audit the canvas for: empty blocks, ungrounded value-prop / segment matches,
revenue / cost imbalance, segment-channel-relationship coherence.

```bash
python3 project-management/strategy-frameworks/business-model-canvas/scripts/canvas_validator.py \
  --input canvas.json --format markdown
```

### Step 5 — Iterate
Most first drafts are wrong in interesting ways. Plan to revise 3-5 times.

## Decision frameworks

### Which type of business model?

| Pattern | Examples | Characteristics |
|---------|----------|-----------------|
| **Unbundled** | Investment banking (advisor + product) | Different segments; different value props |
| **Long Tail** | Netflix, Amazon | Niche x volume |
| **Multi-sided platform** | Visa, Airbnb | Connects 2+ segments; network effects |
| **Free / Freemium** | Spotify, LinkedIn | One segment pays for another's free use |
| **Open** | Open-source + services | Free product, paid expertise/services |

Most modern SaaS = multi-sided OR freemium variant.

### Cost-driven vs value-driven

| Cost-driven | Value-driven |
|-------------|--------------|
| Lean cost structure | Focus on premium value |
| Low-price value prop | High-value, often high-price |
| Maximum automation | High-touch service |
| Extensive outsourcing | In-house excellence |

Most companies need to pick ONE — trying both produces mediocre everything.

### Common BMC anti-patterns

- **Generic value proposition.** "Better, faster, cheaper" — applies to anything; means nothing.
- **One segment listed as "everyone."** Forces commodity positioning.
- **Revenue streams with no channel.** How does money flow?
- **Costs that don't sum to revenue model.** Unit economics broken.
- **Partnerships listed without specific roles.** What do they actually do?
- **No coherent customer journey across blocks.** Segment doesn't connect to channel.

## Output expectations

After using this skill, you should have:

1. A populated **9-block canvas** with specific (not generic) statements
2. A **validation report** flagging gaps, ungrounded assumptions, coherence issues
3. **2-3 prioritized experiments** to test the riskiest assumptions
4. References to other strategy skills (lean canvas for startup-stage; value-proposition-canvas for the VP block)

## References

- `references/canvas-framework.md` — the 9 blocks deep, patterns, examples
- `references/examples-anti-patterns.md` — worked examples + common failures

## Related skills

- `project-management/strategy-frameworks/lean-canvas` — startup-stage variant
- `project-management/strategy-frameworks/swot-analysis` — internal/external strengths-weaknesses
- `project-management/strategy-frameworks/porters-five-forces` — competitive dynamics
- `project-management/discovery/value-proposition-canvas` — deeper on the value-prop block
- `project-management/execution/north-star-metric` — what to measure once model is set
- `business-growth/pricing-strategy` — pricing depth for the revenue block
- `c-level-advisor/ceo-advisor` — strategic context for the model

---

## What I Need You to Do

First, detect which platform I'm using (Claude.ai, ChatGPT, etc.) and follow the matching instructions below.

### If I'm on Claude.ai:

Walk me through these exact steps:

1. **Create the Project:** Tell me to go to **claude.ai > Projects > Create project** and name it **"Business Model Canvas"**

2. **Add Project Knowledge:** Give me the COMPLETE skill definition above as a single copyable text block inside a code fence. Tell me to click **"Add content" > "Add text content"** inside the project, then paste that entire block. Do NOT say "paste from above" -- give me the actual text to copy right there.

3. **Set Custom Instructions:** Tell me to open project settings and paste this exact instruction:
   "You are an expert Business Model Canvas in the Project Management domain. Use the project knowledge as your expertise. Follow the workflows, frameworks, and templates defined there. Always provide specific, actionable output."

4. **Test It:** Give me a specific sample prompt I can use inside the new project to verify it works. Pick a real task from the skill's workflows.

### If I'm on ChatGPT:

Walk me through these exact steps:

1. **Create a Custom GPT:** Tell me to go to **chatgpt.com > Explore GPTs > Create**
2. **Configure it:**
   - Name: **"Business Model Canvas"**
   - Description: "Build, evaluate, and stress-test a Business Model Canvas (Osterwalder) across all 9 blocks. Use when designing or refreshing a business model, auditing a canvas for gaps, exploring monetization, or aligning on the model's assumptions."
   - Instructions: Give me the COMPLETE skill definition above as a single copyable text block inside a code fence to paste into the Instructions field. Do NOT say "paste from above."
3. **Test It:** Give me a sample prompt to verify it works.

### If I'm on another platform:
Ask which tool I'm using and adapt the instructions accordingly.

## Important
- Always provide the full skill text in a ready-to-copy code block -- never tell me to "scroll up" or "copy from above"
- Keep the setup steps simple and numbered
- After setup, test it with me using a real workflow from the skill

Source: https://github.com/borghei/Claude-Skills/tree/main/project-management/strategy-frameworks/business-model-canvas/SKILL.md