In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of digital asset startups, a new approach to product and company creation is emerging – the business studio model. Leveraging shared resources, industry expertise, and operational excellence, business studios offer a more systematic and resource-rich alternative to traditional startup development. They are uniquely positioned to drive the next wave of innovation in the realm of digital assets and provide a transformative offering for established corporations.
The Business Studio Model
The business studio, also referred to as a venture studio, startup studio, or company builder, is an organization that incubates products and startup ventures from within. The process begins with idea generation, where the studio’s team develops, refines, and vets new business ideas. Once a concept is chosen, the team proceeds to create a minimum viable product (MVP), which is then tested for market fit.
If the MVP proves to be promising, the studio helps assemble a dedicated team to further develop the product and manage the business. This team is then provided with operational leadership, including incorporation, legal advice, HR, marketing, finance, sales, and tech development, allowing the team to focus on sharpening the product and growing the business.
To ensure the venture’s financial stability, the studio may also provide initial funding and aid in subsequent fundraising rounds. Ultimately, if the startup gains substantial traction, it could become an independent company, or alternatively, be sold or shuttered if it fails to achieve the desired market impact.
The Edge for Digital Asset Startups
In the volatile world of digital assets – a world characterized by complex regulatory landscapes, rapidly evolving technology, and swift market fluctuations – the benefits of the business studio model become amplified.
Shared expertise and resources, de-risking and validation, and access to capital and network, all become critical tools for startups in the digital asset space. Business studios provide an environment that fosters the growth of such startups, reducing the barriers to entry and increasing the chances of success.
Bridging the Innovation Gap for Corporations
In addition to nurturing startups, business studios offer a unique value proposition to established corporations. They serve as an external innovation arm, helping corporations explore the potential of digital assets by creating tailored startups, providing risk mitigation and R&D efficiency, offering access to innovative talent and ideas, facilitating strategic investments, and sharing valuable resources.
By acting as a bridge between the agility of startups and the resources of established corporations, business studios enable companies to stay ahead of the curve in the increasingly digital business landscape.
vision& – Business Studio for Digital Assets
vision& is a Swiss-based company that accompanies companies along the entire digital asset journey, from the business idea phase to implementation. They are involved in various aspects of the digital asset landscape, including consulting and education, project management, advisory roles, tokenization projects, metaverse business models, and digital asset infrastructure setup. The team members are seasoned experts with backgrounds in financial services, blockchain, cryptocurrency, and digital assets.
Some examples of their past projects include:
• The launch of a Metaverse art gallery, which included the creation and sale of NFTs of the artworks.
• Full implementation of a regulated real estate token. This project involved several stages including conceptualization, the regulatory approval process, the setup of a legally compliant, European-wide cross-border distribution framework, and multiple rounds of technical development and improvement surrounding the token and the user portal.
• Assisting a traditional exchange in designing and setting up a fully regulated digital asset exchange for security tokens. This project included defining an operating model, specifying technical requirements, evaluating technology partners, and working with FINMA to obtain regulatory approval.
• Advising a Swiss bank in their implementation of an NFT project, which included advising on intellectual property, financial regulation, and accounting methods that apply to different use cases of NFTs.
• Supporting a tech company in the strategic positioning of a DLT-based payment solution, which included categorizing potential target groups, evaluating distribution strategies, and establishing a pricing concept for the offering.
• Designing and implementing a sustainable project financing platform for homeowners to finance their renewable energy installations, such as solar power systems and green heating systems.
• Working on the implementation of a Swiss franc-based payment token that fulfills the needs of the real economy. This project involved finding the proper regulatory setting, defining a future-proof operating model, and bringing the conceptual idea to life.
• Creating a Metaverse presence for a Fintech company. This included the creation of a virtual space that encourages discussions about finance, complementing an existing app for two-way lead generation, and supporting the launch during a physical event that included live virtual experiences.
The Future of Digital Assets
As digital assets continue to revolutionize financial systems, business studios are set to play an increasingly pivotal role in this transformative journey. By offering a more systematic, resource-rich, and risk-mitigated approach to startup development, and by providing a platform for corporations to embrace innovation, they are poised to accelerate the rate of innovation and adoption in the digital asset landscape.
In conclusion, the rise of business studios represents an exciting evolution in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. For professionals and investors in the field of digital assets, this is a trend worth watching closely. Business studios could well be the catalysts that spur the creation of the ground-breaking digital asset startups of tomorrow, and the enablers that allow established corporations to stay competitive in the face of rapid technological change.
As we journey forward in this grand opportunity of business, let’s embrace the power of knowledge and curiosity, continually striving to learn, grow, and connect, so that together, we may shape a future that echoes our shared visions and aspirations. And with that, I invite you all to continue this journey with me. As always, I’m just a comment or an email away for any thoughts or discussions you’d like to share. Keep exploring, keep innovating, and until next time, this is Patrick, signing off.
