How to Scope a PoC: Lean Validation for Venture Clienting

PoC Scoping

Once you’ve picked your startup, it’s time to scope the PoC - in other words, define exactly what will be tested, how it will be tested, and who will do what. At this stage, it's also best practice to create a clear RfP (Request for Proposal) to align expectations and to build a simple business impact calculation (your business case) that estimates the potential ROI if the solution were scaled.

The golden rule?

Keep it as simple and lean as possible - while still validating the startup’s key functionality.

Why keep it lean?

Because every layer of complexity you add - IT integrations, sensitive data, new hardware - is another chance for delays, blockers, and costs to explode.

What to avoid in your PoC scope

• No IT integration (if possible): Skip anything that requires connecting to internal systems. Even “simple” integrations can take weeks or months.
• No personal data: Involving employee data often means works council approvals, which add time and complexity.
• Avoid high-dependency setups: Don’t build the PoC around factors you can’t control, like needing three different departments to act in sequence.

What is okay

• Simple logins: Having someone log into a tool with their corporate email is fine - as long as no sensitive data is uploaded.
• Sample or anonymized data: This keeps legal, works council, and IT happy.

What to include

Even though you’re keeping it lean, the PoC still needs to validate the core functionality.

Make sure you:

• Confirm what data is needed
• Check that it exists and can be shared (even anonymized)
• Agree on the exact features that will be tested

How to structure your PoC scope

1. Clear responsibilities
   • What the startup will do
   • What the pain point owner will do
   • What the innovation unit will do
2. Success metricsDefine what “good” looks like:
   • The measurable results that will prove the solution works
   • The threshold for saying “yes, we can solve the problem”
3. Timeline
4. Keep it short. Aim for 4-8 weeks.
5. Budget impact
6. Lean scope = less work for the startup = usually lower cost.
7. Complex scope (especially with hardware) = more time, more cost — only add complexity if it’s absolutely necessary to prove the concept.