DISCOVERY SPRINT · ONE WAY INTO THE ROOT-TO-CANOPY™ METHOD
A fixed-price, 2–4 week sprint led by Salana Adhikari. You leave with clear priorities, a tested concept, an MVP scope and a pilot plan written for a funder.
Fixed price, quoted after a call · 2–4 weeks
BEGIN WITH THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
Three questions, answered before anyone builds
The sprint helps your organization answer three essential questions:
What problem matters most?
Clarify the underlying user, operational, or organizational need before defining the solution.
What should we build?
Identify and validate the product concept most likely to create meaningful value.
How should we move forward?
Understand the technical, organizational, and investment pathway required to bring the concept to life.
These are the Roots and Trunk of our method: understand the real work, then agree on one direction.
IS THIS SPRINT RIGHT FOR YOU?
For Important Opportunities That Need Greater Definition
This engagement is designed for organizations that recognize the need for change but require evidence, alignment, and technical direction before committing to a full build.
01
We have an idea but no plan
Users, priorities and requirements aren’t defined yet.
02
Our leaders see it differently
Program, operations and technical teams aren’t aligned on what matters.
03
We need it for a grant or procurement
You need a credible scope, roadmap and budget before you can ask for money.
04
Our current service has to grow
Something exists, but it needs to change with your users.
05
We’re not sure it’s worth it
You want evidence the idea is useful and feasible before you spend more.
06
Someone mentioned AI
You want an honest answer on whether AI belongs in this, or not.
Every sprint is shaped around your real users, constraints and budget.
Book a 30-minute fit call
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
What you leave with
A decision-ready package, led by a pilot plan written for a funder.
The Sprint Includes
• A pilot plan a funder can say yes to: scope, budget, timeline and impact case
• A clear problem and opportunity statement
• User and stakeholder insights
• Prioritized opportunities
• A tested product concept
• Early workflows or a low-fidelity prototype
• Technical feasibility and architecture direction
• Risks, assumptions and decision points
• Recommended MVP scope
• A phased roadmap and investment estimate
FINAL OUTPUT
A sprint report, a clear direction, and a decision session with your stakeholders.
You’ll know what to build, why it matters and what it will take, whether or not you continue with us.
Book a 30-minute fit call
2–4 weeks • Fixed price, quoted after a call • No obligation to continue
WHAT WE DO
How the sprint works
The sprint covers the Roots and Trunk of the Root-to-Canopy™ Method.
01 — UNDERSTAND
Understand (Roots)
Clarify the organizational need, desired impact, operating environment, constraints, stakeholders, users, existing systems, and measurable success indicators.
02 — PRIORITIZE
Prioritize (Trunk)
Assess digital opportunities against user value, mission alignment, feasibility, organizational readiness, risk, complexity, expected impact, and investment.
03 — DEVELOP
Develop (Trunk)
Shape the strongest opportunity into an initial product concept with journeys, workflows, prototypes, and feedback that helps stakeholders evaluate the direction.
04 — ASSESS
Assess (Trunk)
Evaluate existing systems, data, integrations, security, privacy, accessibility, architecture, dependencies, constraints, and technical risks.
The goal is enough evidence to decide, not a full product design. Proof before platform.
WHY BEGIN WITH DISCOVERY?
Make the Next Investment Decision With Greater Confidence
A stronger discovery process aligns people, validates assumptions, and prepares teams to invest with confidence.
01
Create Clarity
Turn a broad challenge or early-stage idea into a well-defined opportunity.
02
Reduce Investment Risk
Test critical assumptions before committing significant resources to development.
03
Build Stakeholder Alignment
Give leadership, program, product, and technical teams a shared understanding of the problem and direction.
04
Center Real User Needs
Ground product decisions in evidence instead of internal assumptions.
Accessibility, privacy, environmental impact and long-term running costs are part of the conversation from the start.
WHO WE SERVE
Designed for Organizations Advancing Meaningful Work
This sprint is especially suited for organizations developing or improving digital services that support people, communities, public systems, environmental resilience, or long-term institutional capability.
Climate and environmental nonprofits
Sustainability and resilience programs
Government agencies and public-sector programs
Foundations and climate funders
Mission-driven organizations building or modernizing digital services
THE OUTCOME
Know What to Build, Why It Matters, and How to Move Forward
01
The problem worth solving
A clear definition of the opportunity, the users it must serve, and the value it should create.
02
The concept most likely to create value
A validated product direction informed by stakeholder, user, and operational evidence.
03
Technical and organizational considerations
The feasibility, architecture, risks, dependencies, and readiness factors that shape the path forward.
04
The most practical next step
A roadmap and pilot plan ready for funding, procurement or implementation.
By the end of the sprint, your organization will have a shared, evidence-based product direction, a practical roadmap, and the clarity needed to make the next investment decision.
START WITH CLARITY
Bring one idea. Leave with a plan.
No polished brief needed. Tell us what you’re trying to make possible.
Exploring how AI could support climate, resilience, or sustainability work?