Hypothesis Testing

Over the past week, we went out and interviewed prospective customers from many different areas for hypothesis testing.  Specifically, we wanted to test the following:

Value Proposition:  Labor costs are significant, and autonomous implementation would solve the problem

Customer Segment: Owners/administrators of large green spaces would buy an autonomous mower.  Organic farmers would buy an autonomous weeding system.
          Sub-hypothesis:  They will buy if ROI is < 1 year


For mowing applications, we talked to the Stanford Ground Maintenance, Stanford Golf Course supervisor for grass maintenance, a Toro distributor, and an early adopter of an autonomous lawn mower.   For weeding applications, we spoke with both small and large farms.  In order from smallest (40 acres) to largest (8000+ acres):  Paloutzian Farms, Rainbow Orchards, Rincon Farms, REFCO Farms, White Farms, and Bolthouse Farms.

We got some very interesting feedback, and overall interest in both systems.  Both hypotheses passed, but with some reservations (especially from those who's jobs they would replace!).  We also got good feedback from Toro with respect to another hypothesis - selling through distributor vs. selling direct to the consumer.

The following posts summarize the customer interviews....