I collaborated with Whistler Harvest, a sustainable functional mushroom farm, on an R&D project to explore future product line possibilities. The primary goal was to increase overall revenue streams, give customers new options, and solve a critical shelf-life problem with existing products.
My work provided a clear foundation for a new product, beginning with an in-depth, methodical process.
Discovery & Validation: I conducted market research to understand the industry, trends, and competitive landscape. I then used customer validation to engage with potential customers, confirm their needs, and validate the problem we were solving.
Product & Strategy: I led product ideation and development, using research to conceptualize a new mushroom coffee product. I specified and iterated on product requirements, creating a lean business plan that outlined the business model and key activities.
Testing & Launch: To bring the product to life and test it with real users, a functional MVP (Minimum Viable Product) was created. I also laid the groundwork for a successful launch by developing a go-to-market strategy and timeline.
Execution: I began connecting with strategic stakeholders and suppliers to build the key relationships that would be needed to support future operations and growth.
Exploration of the market landscape to understand the opportunity and improve the value proposition.
Product requirements were specified and iterated upon for initial product design.
MVP was created to bring the product to life and test the product with real users.
Go to market strategy and timeline is built out.
This exploratory work provided the company with a clear and actionable roadmap. The project culminated in:
A validated product-market opportunity for a new mushroom coffee line.
A fully developed value proposition, supported by market research and customer insights.
A tangible MVP that could be used for further testing and development.
A comprehensive go-to-market strategy and timeline to guide future decision-making.
"Collaborating with Mieke on this R&D project provided us with a clear foundation for our mushroom coffee product. She conducted expert market research to identify a product opportunity and validated user needs to ensure we were solving a real problem.
She led the product's development, creating a functional MVP and a lean business plan that gave us a clear roadmap. She even laid the groundwork for our launch by developing a go-to-market strategy.
Beyond the product itself, Mieke was instrumental in connecting us with key stakeholders and partners. Her collaborative approach was a valuable contribution to our team's efforts, providing the clarity and direction we needed to pursue a new product line."
— Patrick, Founder of Whistler Harvest