Challenges in Running a Startup

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Running a startup brings many challenges.

Here's a list of key challenges to overcome:

The startup is a rollercoaster ride from the highs to the lows.

Be prepared to have your emotions go through turmoil.

The founder must move everything.

There's no corporate flywheel behind you.

There's no brand that attracts customers.

Every single customer must be won with hand-to-hand sales combat by the founder.

Sales is filled with many no's and a smattering of yes's here and there.

Hiring people is a challenge.

There's an infinite number of prospective employees and contractors, but only a few that fit.

It's a full-time and a half job.

The hours are long and intense.

The founder must build the culture from the start and carry it through to all new hires.

Building culture takes time, as nothing is won quickly.

Investors should take this into account when considering funding the startup.

Going from nothing to something is one of the biggest challenges in the business world.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

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For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
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Key Risks in a Startup

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

Investors reviewing a startup for a potential investment know there are many risks to consider.

Here's a list of key risks to look for in a startup:

Team risk.

Does the startup have the right team with the right skills, and can they work together?

Market risk.

Will the market provide enough opportunities for the startup to succeed?

Competition risk.

Will the competition outrun the startup?

Timing risk.

Is now the right time to launch this startup?

Funding risk.

Will the startup be able to raise enough funding to accomplish the milestones?

Marketing risk.

Will the startup be able to get its message across?

Sales risk.

Will the startup choose the appropriate sales channels and hit the forecast?

Technology risk.

Will the technology landscape move against the startup and obsolete their technology?

Product risk.

Can the team build the proposed product?

Hiring risk.

Can the team hire the right people based on their location and position in the market?

Consider these risks in making a startup investment decision.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Please follow, share, and leave a review.

Music courtesy of Bensound.

Testing for Product Market Fit

Hello, this is Hall T. Martin with the Startup Funding Espresso -- your daily shot of startup funding and investing.

In raising funding, investors look to see where the startup is in finding product/market fit.

Here are some key tests to check how close your startup is to product-market fit:

Demand outstrips supply.

The startup finds itself constantly adding more server space for customers.

The startup finds itself hiring more team members to manage the customer load.

The product value shows through.

Customers find value in the product and tell you so.

Sales appear to be closing more quickly.

The word of mouth from the users generates a faster close rate.

Cash in the bank account appears to be growing faster than before.

There's buzz in the market.

The press wants to write about your company.

You receive unsolicited comments about the excitement around your startup.

Proof of product market fit shows up in customer usage, increasing sales, financial metrics, and word of mouth.

It's often clear to see when you have product-market fit.

Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding.

Let's go startup something today.

_______________________________________________________

For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: http://investorconnect.org

Check out our other podcasts here: https://investorconnect.org/
For Investors check out: https://tencapital.group/investor-landing/
For Startups check out: https://tencapital.group/company-landing/
For eGuides check out: https://tencapital.group/education/
For upcoming Events, check out https://tencapital.group/events/

For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group

Please follow, share, and leave a review.

Music courtesy of Bensound.