Lean, imperfect, resilient — why our path with cNode isn’t a straight sprint

Introduction: start-ups aren’t a plan — they’re a process

If you found a company in April 2024, you rarely start with a finished product. At Creativate we learned early that the path to a market-ready DeepTech product isn’t a straight line through the lab — it’s many short loops in the market.

What practice taught us

• Lean Startup isn’t a buzzword — it’s survival.

• Pivots are routine — every new use case is a chance to correct course.

• Imperfection isn’t a flaw — it’s the fastest route to feedback.

From Creativate to an AI Studio — and onwards to cNode

We began in early 2024 with the idea of a “Start-up Operating System”: a tool to guide founders from idea to market readiness.
Within months it became clear: too broad. Pivot #1: Creativate became an AI Studio, a consulting & development partner for AI/ML projects. From that studio, cNode emerged — the focused evolution into our own DeepTech platform for forecasts, scenarios and decision intelligence.

Imperfection as a feature — and why early testing matters

Our first wireframe was far from perfect — and that was the point. Early testing outside the lab produced faster, harder feedback than any slide deck.

• Some features didn’t hold up — we cut them.

• Others became core — like our cluster logic and the Co-Pilot.

• The rule: get out there, show it, fail, reset.
  In other words: Build → Measure → Learn. Repeat.

Pivots are part of the game

We discarded more than we kept. That sounds dramatic — it isn’t. Every pivot is an investment in clarity.

Waypoints from our journey

• Operating System → AI Studio → sharper focus

• Agent prototype → multi-cluster framework → substance over UI

• Beta tool → platform-based forecasting engine → structure over hype

Especially in DeepTech, you can’t “ship faster” just because it looks good on LinkedIn.

Team & partners — decisive for every build

It’s not just what you build — it’s who you build it with. We learned first-hand how the choice of team or external partners makes the difference between blocked development and real progress.

Formative factors

• Bootstrapping & business angels who trusted us early.

• Advisors & partners who challenged us (not just applauded).

• Tech partners like Ähdus Technology and Camsol as backbone for our ML architecture.

The XLETIX moment: start-up = obstacle course

18 kilometres through mud, water and walls — that’s what building a start-up often feels like. Obstacles appear where you didn’t plan them. Sometimes the only way is through — together.

What we learned

• Quick applause isn’t the goal.

• Grants and research demand substance, not pitch-deck gloss.

• Austria (Linz, Vienna) is our DeepTech playground; Germany remains home base for consulting & delivery.

Conclusion: imperfection is the path — not the obstacle

Our journey shows: start-ups grow in the market, not in the lab. Lean Startup means testing early, pivoting often, and having the courage to show unfinished work.

cNode is the result of many small corrections — with a clear North Star: a decision-intelligence platform that makes organisations more resilient, sustainable and steerable.

👉 Join us — think with us, pivot with us, test with us. Real innovation doesn’t start perfect — it starts together.