Turning Innovation into an Investable Proposition
IDST had developed a low-cost, general-purpose biometric identification process that could be delivered entirely over the internet. The ambition was clear: eliminate the need for memorising passwords while improving security and usability at scale.
It was a genuinely innovative approach, but like many early-stage ventures, the real challenge was not invention — it was translating technical novelty into a proposition that investors could confidently back.
This is precisely where the Mindsheet Innovation Launch Evaluation Process and ACE (Automated Concept Evaluator) were applied.
Backing an Ambitious Bet
From the outset, everyone involved recognised that IDST represented an ambitious opportunity. It was not a safe, incremental play — but it was one with the potential to obsolete an entire class of behaviour that users disliked and organisations struggled to secure.
Working with Eumeng and Clive was a reminder of why innovation work is energising. They were classic entrepreneurs: clear-eyed about the risks, deeply committed to the vision, and willing to subject their ideas to rigorous commercial challenge.
The task was not to oversell the opportunity, but to frame it honestly so that the upside — and the risks — were visible and balanced.
Applying the Innovation Launch & ACE Process
Mindsheet worked with IDST across two structured Innovation Launch evaluations.
Using ACE, we:
- Identified credible early-adopter markets
- Tested the uniqueness and defensibility of the approach
- Built a risk-adjusted financial valuation, rather than an abstract score
- Defined clear development stages tied to value creation
- Showed investors what had to go right — and what could go wrong
The first proposal directly supported IDST in securing £60,000 of seed funding from Northstar Equities.
The second proposal helped structure and justify the next phase of development, focusing investment where it would unlock the greatest value.
Replacing the Lock Without Changing the Door
Passwords are like badly cut keys: fragile, forgettable, and endlessly copied. IDST’s ambition was not to build a better key, but to remove the lock entirely.
The Innovation Launch process acted as the blueprint — showing how to replace something deeply embedded in everyday behaviour without destabilising the entire system around it.
ACE provided the financial logic that allowed investors to see how and when that replacement could pay off, rather than relying on belief alone.
What This Project Proved
The long-term commercial outcome of every early-stage venture is uncertain. What is certain is that innovation without structured evaluation struggles to attract serious backing.
This project once again demonstrated that:
- Ambitious ideas can be made investable without hype
- Risk-adjusted valuation builds trust with investors
- A repeatable Innovation Launch process accelerates funding decisions
IDST remains a strong example of how Mindsheet helps innovators move from possibility to fundable reality.
Before You Pitch, Prove the Value
If you are developing a breakthrough innovation and need to secure funding without overselling, Mindsheet’s Innovation Launch Evaluation Process and ACE valuation framework will help you turn ambition into a credible, risk-adjusted investment case.
Talk to us before you pitch.