On October 15th, 2025, we hosted an insightful and practical webinar aimed at Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and technology developers. The session provided valuable lessons from over five years of exploring the complex world of technology market validation. We shared how we’ve refined our approach over time, learning from both successes and mistakes, to help accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies.

Key insights from 912 days of market validation

We kicked off the webinar by reflecting on the 912 days—about 30 months—spent working on technology market validation. These two and a half years have taught us many lessons, shaping the way we approach innovation. From early mistakes to big wins, we’ve learned that rapid iteration, testing, and learning from real-world feedback are essential for successful technology adoption.

The goal of the session was to share these lessons with you, so you can apply them to your own projects and avoid common pitfalls as you move through your go-to-market journey.

What you learned:

1. Our Lean Methodology and Go-to-Market Journey

We shared our approach to market validation, which is built on the Lean methodology. This approach prioritises rapid learning and iteration. By focusing on the Build-Measure-Learn cycle, we’ve been able to help developers test their hypotheses early, create Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and validate their technologies’ desirability, feasibility, and viability. This has allowed us to quickly engage with early adopters, refine ideas based on real-world feedback, and ensure a better product-market fit.

2. Case Study: Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM)

One of the key highlights of the webinar was a real-world case study featuring the collaboration between University West and PROCADA, where we applied our validation approach to the integration of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technology. This collaboration allowed PROCADA to test new technologies without heavy financial investments, while University West was able to scale their development efforts from TRL 3-4 to TRL 6. It’s a perfect example of how our approach to technology validation can drive results in a real-world context.

3. The Early Adopter Programme (EAP): Why It Matters

We also highlighted the importance of our Early Adopter Programme (EAP). Working with early adopters at every stage of technology readiness is crucial for gaining feedback, iterating quickly, and speeding up the go-to-market process. By working with first users, we’ve seen how valuable their insights are in shaping product development, and we encouraged everyone to integrate this approach into their own projects.

4. Practical Framework for Technology Market Validation

We didn’t just talk theory, we shared a practical framework that you can start using right away. Our methodology includes:

• Value Proposition Definition: Clarifying your technology’s unique benefits and what sets it apart in the market.

• Buyer Persona and Customer Journey Mapping: Understanding your target audience’s needs, pain points, and motivations, and how to align your offering with their goals.

• Business Model Canvas: A strategic tool that helps visualise your business’s key components, identify distribution channels, and streamline decision-making.

Our goal was to share our journey, give you tools to avoid common mistakes, and provide you with actionable methods to speed up your go-to-market process. By applying our Lean methodology and tapping into the power of early adopters, you can maximize the impact of your technology and accelerate its success.

If you want to learn more about how we can help you with technology validation and market adoption, visit Techfinders.io and let’s start working together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

María Páez Guerrero

Techfinders Product Owner and Product Marketing Manager

María drives product strategy and marketing at Techfinders, helping manufacturing developers craft compelling value propositions for their solutions and connect with a strong online community. Her work ensures that SMEs can seamlessly access and adopt innovative technologies.