How To Start Your Own Biomimicry Project
The chances are, you arrived at biomimicry because you felt that something was… missing. Or, you felt there’s an opportunity for something new and innovative to happen. A meaningful career move, an inspiring community, a chance to problem-solve differently, or perhaps a unique set of skills.
By doing a practical biomimicry project, you are taking an intentional step towards the future that you want for yourself, and the world. Starting is always the hardest part, but we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Finding the right project topic (or challenge statement) is very similar to finding the right start-up idea. In fact, your project done right could very easily become a start-up! We’ve borrowed selective insights from Y-Combinator for this exact reason.
So, before you tackle turning that big idea into a practical project, here are six questions to ask that will help you get started, and get a clear challenge statement that needs solving.
Six questions to ask before starting your biomimicry project
- What is a problem or opportunity that you’ve personally encountered?
Ideally one that you’re in an unusual position to see. Think of jobs, internships and life experiences you’ve had.
- What are things you personally wish existed?
Caution! Stop and think, is there a reason that this product / service doesn’t exist yet? Or does it, perhaps, exist already, but you just didn’t know?
- What are big things in the world (or your world!) that have changed recently?
These can provide new challenges, and opportunities. E.g. Covid, a new tech, new laws, new materials, etc.
- Ask other people what problems they have
Hint: Don’t just speak to people who have had this problem, but also to people who’ve tried to solve it. What worked, what didn’t?
- Find a business founder / friend / team that is already working on something you like!
Leverage existing momentum, and see if you can apply your unique skills to this challenge-based project.
- A product / process / system that is failing is...
Look around; what is happening that shouldn’t be? What is not happening that should be?
Next steps to start your biomimicry project
If you’re ready to take your journey further, here's a good next step:
Download the complete Biomimicry Project Playbook here for free, and enter the Biomimicry Practitioner Programme competition to win a complimentary spot in our cohort for March 2025.
You can learn more about the Practitioner Programme, and what the six months entail here.