The IDEATE Method: Identifying High-Potential Entrepreneurial Ideas

By Justin G. Longenecker, J. William Petty, Leslie E. Palich & Frank Hoy

The IDEATE Method: Identifying High-Potential Entrepreneurial Ideas is a practical, step-by-step guide for developing and evaluating business ideas with real market potential. Published by SAGE Publications, this book provides a structured framework to move from opportunity discovery to idea validation, helping entrepreneurs and students reduce risk and improve decision-making.

Built for entrepreneurship courses and real-world founders alike, the IDEATE method supports opportunity analysis, customer discovery, competitive assessment, feasibility testing, and early-stage business model development.

What This Book Does

This book teaches a repeatable process to generate, screen, and validate entrepreneurial ideas, guiding readers to identify high-potential opportunities and avoid common early-stage pitfalls.

Key Features

• Structured IDEATE framework for evaluating entrepreneurial opportunities
• Tools for customer discovery and problem-solution fit
• Methods for market sizing, competitive analysis, and differentiation
• Feasibility, resource, and risk assessment guidance
• Exercises, examples, and actionable templates for application
• Ideal for classroom use and real startup validation

Who Should Use This Book?

• Entrepreneurship and business students
• Early-stage founders and startup teams
• Innovation and product managers
• Educators teaching entrepreneurship and new venture creation
• Incubators, accelerators, and small business programs

Why It’s Essential

• Provides a disciplined approach to opportunity selection
• Helps reduce risk through validation and evidence-based testing
• Transforms ideas into structured, fundable business concepts
• Widely useful for both academic learning and real ventures

The practical framework for identifying and validating high-potential business ideas.
Order today from BooksGoat and build your strongest startup foundation.

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781544393247
• Title: The IDEATE Method
• Authors: Justin G. Longenecker; J. William Petty; Leslie E. Palich; Frank Hoy
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Format: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Availability: In Stock
• Shipping: Free Shipping

Table of Contents (Highlights)

• Opportunity Recognition and Idea Generation
• Problem Identification and Customer Discovery
• Market Research and Competitive Analysis
• Feasibility Testing and Resource Assessment
• Value Proposition and Differentiation
• Business Model Basics and Early Validation
• Presenting and Refining the Venture Concept

FAQs

• Is this book practical or academic? It is highly practical, designed for both entrepreneurship courses and real-world founders.
• Does it help validate startup ideas? Yes, it provides tools for customer discovery, market analysis, and feasibility testing.
• Is it suitable for beginners? Yes, it is written for students and first-time entrepreneurs building foundational skills.