Discover 101: Is Your Problem Worth Solving?

Becoming an entrepreneur doesn’t start with building a product. It starts with understanding your customer and their problems.

Discover is a 4-week, highly interactive program designed to help early-stage founders gain clarity before they build. This program is intentionally pre-product and focused on customer discovery, validation, and problem definition.

*Please note: Due to Eventbrite’s platform limitations, this program appears as a month-long event. In reality, Discover consists of four live sessions, held once per week for two hours on Thursday evenings.

Instead of working toward a pitch deck, participants will work toward a complete Lean(er) Canvas — a tool used to clearly explain:

• The problem you are solving
• Who experiences it most
• How it’s solved today
• Why your approach could be different
• What assumptions have been tested
• What still needs to be learned

Program Details:

The Lean(er) Canvas is introduced in Week 1, and participants begin filling it in during the first session. Over the following weeks, they refine and strengthen their canvas through customer interviews, feedback, and guided exercises.

By Week 4, participants share their final Lean(er) Canvas in a supportive environment focused on learning and clarity — not pitching.

Duration: 4 Weeks (2hrs per week)

• Week 1: Thursday, May 28 th
• Week 2: Thursday, June 4th
• Week 3: Thursday, June 11th
• Week 4: Thursday, June 18th

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (MDT)

Location: Online via Zoom

*Please note: Due to Eventbrite’s platform limitations, this program appears as a month-long event. In reality, Discover consists of four live sessions, held once per week for two hours on Thursday evenings.

What You’ll Walk Away With

By the end of Discover, you will have:

• A clearly defined and validated customer problem
• A strong early adopter profile grounded in evidence
• A refined value proposition connected to real customer pain
• A complete Lean(er) Canvas that reflects real learning, not guesses
• Confidence in what to test next — and what can wait

Important to Know

• This is not a lecture — expect hands-on exercises, breakout rooms, and discussion
• This is not a pitch deck program
• Cameras on and participation are strongly encouraged to get the most value

Discover is ideal for founders who want to build the right thing, for the right people, at the right time.

What participants are saying about Discover:

”Community was the biggest part for me. As someone who just came in with an idea, I was able to leverage the coaches, and other founders as support networks in the journey. I felt like coming into every class that there was something I could get from one another.”

“In every break out session the coaches provided me with valuable insights that really made me rethink my idea but in a good way and they gave me ideas to work with that reshaped the way I plan to move forward.”

Photo & Video Disclaimer

By registering for this event, you acknowledge and grant permission for Platform Calgary to capture photos, audio, and/or video recordings that may include your image or likeness during this event or program. These materials may be used by Platform Calgary for promotional and marketing purposes across print and digital platforms, including social media, newsletters, websites, and other communications channels.

The collection and use of any personal information is conducted in accordance with Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). For more information, please review our Privacy Policy.

If you have concerns or do not wish to be included in photography or recordings, please notify a Platform Calgary team member in advance or email communications@platformcalgary.com.

Please note The Platform Innovation Centre is a shared public venue. While we aim to accommodate all requests, complete exclusion from photography or recordings cannot be guaranteed.

Mission Statement

As a non-profit, Platform Calgary is dedicated to fostering a vibrant tech ecosystem. Proceeds generated through our programs and events directly support our mission, enabling us to enhance Calgary's standing as a premier destination for tech innovation and entrepreneurship. We appreciate your continued support!

AI Tools Policy

To protect participant confidentiality, intellectual property, and ensure an equitable learning environment, AI-powered note-taking tools are not permitted during sessions. This includes any transcription, summarization, or recording tools operated by AI. We encourage manual note-taking (by hand or typed) to support focus, privacy, and active engagement.

For any questions about this program please email programs@platformcalgary.com.