How women can use design thinking to grow a side hustle into a thriving start-up
Got a side hustle with big potential? Learn how design thinking can help you turn smart ideas into a successful start-up.
It’s a problem-solving method used by top innovators – is often followed exactly, step by step, by side-hustling women. The five steps of design thinking are to empathise, define, ideate, prototype and test – not in a lab or office, but in a kitchen, through care and curiosity.
“This is where the shift happens,” says Alvira. “From casual help to entrepreneurial insight. When that balm gets shared with a neighbour, then a cousin, then someone from church, you’ve moved from social capital to startup thinking.”
“These early exchanges, rooted in trust and care, are the true currency of informal entrepreneurship. They allow you to test, refine and grow organically. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from strength.”
But how do you move from here to a real, structured business? “With intention and a lot of heart”, says Alvira.
Here is her 5-Step Launch Checklist
1. Scan your world daily
Start paying closer attention to the pain points and unmet needs around you in your family, your street, your WhatsApp groups, etc. Business ideas are often hiding in plain sight. If something frustrates people or feels unnecessarily hard or expensive, there’s an opportunity. Make notes of the things people complain about. Over time, patterns will emerge.
2. Activate your network
Don’t keep your idea a secret. Share it with people you trust. Use your community as a sounding board. Your circles are your first market research panel. Let them help shape your idea.
3. Prototype together
Hand out small samples or offer a service preview. Not only does this reduce risk, but it builds early credibility and loyalty. You’re involving people in your journey and that creates emotional investment. Don’t wait until it’s “perfect”. Getting feedback early is more valuable than getting it “right” alone.
4. Iterate openly
Be open to tweaking your offering. Don’t get stuck on your first idea or what you think people need. Real customers will show you what they value and what they don’t. Listening with humility is one of the most powerful growth tools to learn. Feedback is not criticism – it’s insight that will help your business grow.
5. Reinvest trust
Your first testers and supporters are your brand ambassadors. Let them help you spread the word. Ask for referrals, reviews or shares. That trust you’ve built becomes your foundation for scaling. Offer them a small thank-you gift or a lifetime discount to reinforce their loyalty and to encourage word-of-mouth.
“The bottom line is that women who have side-hustles already know how to do this. Design thinking might sound like a boardroom strategy, but it’s really just human-centered problem solving, something women do every day. You already have what it takes!” says Alvira.
Words: Linda Christensen
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