Understand the ecosystem around your idea.

Quick Landscape Scan

This isn’t just a checklist—it’s your fast-track to clarity and confidence. A landscape scan helps you see the playing field, understand the competition, and carve out your unique lane.

Think of it as your GPS for growth—because you can’t win the game if you don’t know the field.

What It Is

A landscape scan is a fast, structured way to understand who else is working in your space, what makes your approach unique, and where your project stands in terms of readiness.

Why It Matters

  1. Avoids duplication and helps you learn from others.
  2. Identifies partnership and scaling opportunities.
  3. Strengthens your case for funders and stakeholders.
  4. Reveals gaps so you can focus your next steps.

How It Works

Root Cause Analysis is your strategic lens. It helps you move beyond surface-level problems and ask:
“What’s really causing this?”
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When exploring your solution, use this tool to examine four key dimensions:
01

Identify Yourself

Write your organization's name and the solution that you are inspecting. 
02

Look
Around

List three organizations, programs, or initiatives doing something similar.

Tip: Look beyond Google—check industry reports, LinkedIn, and community networks.
03

Define Your Differentiator

In one sentence, describe what makes your approach unique.

This is your mic-drop moment—keep it sharp and clear.
04

Readiness Check

Review the list of building blocks (strategic plan, budget, partnerships, etc.) and check everything you already have in place.

This shows your strengths and where you’re solid.



04

Mind The Gaps

Pick your top 3 missing pieces from the list (clear objectives, proof of demand, risk strategy, etc.).

No shame in the gaps—this is where the magic happens.
Why It Matters

Before You Build Big—Know Who’s Out There!

Example That Hits Home    

CDFI Merchant Services

Who else is doing something similar?

  • Traditional merchant service providers (e.g., Square, Stripe, PayPal)
  • B Corp-certified payment processors
  • Other CDFIs experimenting with payment solutions

What’s different about our approach?

We’re creating a mission-aligned, affordable merchant services model specifically designed for CDFIs and their small business borrowers, with a focus on transparency, education, and replicability.

What do we already have in place?

☑ Strategic plan with goals
☑ Budget or financial projections
☑ Project timeline or implementation plan
☑ Stakeholder list or partnership agreements
☑ Letters of support or commitment
☑ Data on market demand or pilot results
☑ Risk assessment or contingency plans
☑ Documentation of our current capital structure
☑ Compliance or regulatory documentation
☑ Impact measurement or evaluation framework

What are we missing? (Top 3 concerns)

☑ Proof that people actually want this (need more stakeholder validation)
☑ Plan for how this will scale or replicate (need to refine scaling strategy)
☑ Way to measure if it's working (need to finalize impact metrics and feedback loops)

Scan Summary

This scan shows that the idea of offering CDFI Merchant Services is well-positioned, with a clear differentiator and strong foundational readiness. The next steps are to deepen stakeholder validation, sharpen the scaling plan, and lock in measurement tools to ensure success and replicability.