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Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Before you take the leap, make sure you've considered these 5 crucial factors! Read our latest article to discover the secrets to launching a successful startup in uncertain economic times. #Financial

Co-founders play a crucial role in the success of a business for several reasons: Complementary Skills: Co-founders often bring different skill sets, experiences, and perspectives to the table. This diversity can be invaluable in addressing various challenges and opportunities that arise during the business journey. Shared Responsibility: Starting and running a business can be overwhelming for one person alone. Co-founders share the workload, responsibilities, and risks, which can alleviate some of the pressure and provide support in times of need. Support System: Entrepreneurship can be a rollercoaster ride with highs and lows. Having a co-founder means having someone to share the journey with, celebrate successes, and navigate through tough times together. This emotional support can be invaluable. Ideation and Innovation: Brainstorming and ideation sessions are often more fruitful with multiple minds involved. Co-founders can bounce ideas off each other, challenge assumptions, and come up with innovative solutions that may not have been possible individually. Network and Connections: Each co-founder brings their own network and connections to the table, which can be instrumental in building partnerships, securing funding, or accessing resources that are crucial for the business's growth. Accountability: Co-founders hold each other accountable, ensuring that goals are met, deadlines are adhered to, and the business stays on track. This mutual accountability fosters a culture of responsibility and commitment. Long-term Vision: With multiple founders, there's a higher likelihood of aligning on a long-term vision for the business. Co-founders can challenge each other to think strategically and ensure that decisions are made with the company's best interests in mind. We capital-Wings help you to meet co-founder fir for your startup. Mail us at [email protected]

A lot of people are trying to start a new business. Part of the reason why many people aren't successful at that is because they don't understand the economics and finances of a business. One of the biggest myths that seems to be pushed around is that there are these mysterious "investors" that will help support your business with cash early on and that will make your efforts easier. I see a lot of startup founders seem to treat this pursuit of investor money as their golden ticket, or at least, their start. You don't need investors to make money, but you do need to understand money. I have a proposition for anyone out their trying to raise money, have you considered what it would look like to not? At this point I've seen north of 500 company pitches in one form or another and there are common themes. Most startup founders are pitching a business that may require significant cash to do the way they are thinking, but almost every time I've seen a pitch I have seen a smaller scale version of the business they could deploy without needing outside money (or needing a lot less). At the core of a business, it should be turning a profit. So here is a thought question if you are in this position: How would your business be different if instead of looking for investor money you simply tried to create a product or service people wanted to use and would pay you for? A common theme I've seen is that the startup founder may wish to offer some automated or scalable version of a service, but they could offer a different version now. With BigTB, we love doing new product launches. The work is fun, the engineering problems are interesting, and the potential upside is massive. That said, we're able to avoid needing any external money because we do services work. What would that look like in your business? Would it be easier to find customers and use those revenues to fund your growth? A big part of the reason why I think this is an important goal is that it helps really target understanding how to make money in that industry. If you do end up needing investors, it is much easier to pitch "I have a business that is making some money now, but with investment we could make more because of (x, y, and z)" than it is to say "I have nothing right now, but if you give me money then I can build it". Whatever you're off to this Monday, good luck!

🚀 Crafting an Effective Business Plan for Startup Success Every great journey begins with a map, and for startups, the business plan is just that. It's not merely a document but a blueprint for success, guiding your venture from concept to reality. 📝 Detail Your Vision Imagine your business plan as the narrative of your entrepreneurial journey. Start with a clear and compelling executive summary. Detail your vision, market opportunity, and competitive advantages. This clarity will not only guide your steps but also attract potential investors and partners. 🔍 Conduct Thorough Market Research Understanding the terrain is key in any journey. Comprehensive market research provides insights into your target audience, competition, and market trends. This knowledge allows you to position your startup effectively and tailor your strategies to market demands. 💬 Let's Discuss What key elements do you believe are crucial for a successful business plan? Have you experienced a time when a well-crafted business plan helped overcome obstacles? Share your thoughts or ask questions below! #BookkeepingBasics #QuickBooksTips #FinancialForecasting #BusinessPlanStrategies #AccountingSoftware #SmallBusinessBookkeeping #QuickBooksOnline #FinancialPlanning #BookkeepingAutomation #BusinessStrategy

One time, Sandra pitched a business idea to her friend, Ela. A business she wanted to start up so bad but was unable to because she lacked the funds for it. She persuaded Ela to invest, promising returns with interests within months. Excited but without any business experience or research, Ela agreed impulsively. She funded the startup, but within a month, it began to falter. Three months later, Sandra couldn't fulfill her promise, offering silly excuses instead. Ela regretted her naivety but then you will agree with me, that there is no point crying over spilt milk. What was Ela's mistake? She invested in an idea not a viable business. Let me further explain it; The individual seeking an investor should have initiated the business, ensuring it generates reasonable profits. They should have considered the pros and cons beforehand. Instead of presenting just an idea, they should approach investors with a clear expansion plan. Investors should aim to support business growth while ensuring profitability. In Ela's case, she didn't contemplate these factors, and when she did, it was already too late. Never invest in something you don't understand. Ela jumped into a business venture she was clueless about. Remember, emotions have no place in business. If you're sentimental, avoid mixing business with friends or family; a stranger might treat you more professionally. Why? They will want to prove themselves to you. Always think twice before spending money on investments. Seek advice, research thoroughly, and ensure any potential investment has a solid plan for success. If you have doubts, walk away. If you proceed, formalize agreements with legal assistance to protect your interests and ensure your gains are included. I hope I have potentially prevented someone from making an impulsive investment decision.

Are You Self-Funding Your Startup? Launching a new product or service is exhilarating, but self-funding the development can feel like navigating a financial maze. The thrill of innovation often clashes with financial realities. Grants, loans, or investments might seem like the perfect fix, but they bring their own distractions. So, what’s a founder to do? From my time running a product development service in Tayside, I’ve seen many entrepreneurs struggle to balance creativity with financial constraints. Here’s how you can make it work: → Prioritise your goals: Define what you want from your business and align your funding strategy accordingly. → Seek expert advice: Engage with advisors who grasp the nuances of your industry. → Network wisely: Surround yourself with people who’ve walked this path. Learn from their mistakes. → Stay focused: Diversions will happen. Keep your eyes on the prize and avoid funding that doesn’t align with your goals. Challenges are part and parcel of the journey to success. But with the right guidance and a clear vision, you can navigate through them. Who knows? Your small company could be the next big thing. What strategies have you found most effective in securing funding while staying focused? #growth #innovation #money

A common theme I hear from entrepreneurs is they have a great product idea that everyone wants, but nobody will give them the money to build it so they are stuck. Here are a few thoughts in my latest Atlanta Ventures blog on how to challenge your assumptions and keep moving forward: https://lnkd.in/eV9Rs6eT

Imagine trying to assemble a puzzle without ever seeing the final image.....Frustrating, right? You might get a few pieces in place, but you're constantly second-guessing whether you’re making any real progress. Starting a business from the ground up can feel just like that—a grind with no guarantee that all your effort will amount to anything. And in business, uncertainty is expensive. This is why the best investors take a different approach..... They buy established, profitable businesses instead of gambling on startups. Why? Because it eliminates guesswork. You're not throwing money into a black hole, hoping it pays off—you’re stepping into a business that’s already proven to work. Acquiring an existing, thriving business isn't just a safer bet; it’s a power move. With an established business, you don’t have to wonder if you’ll succeed—you know what you’re walking into. The financials, the customer base, the operational systems—everything is laid out, and it's performing well. As an investor or business leader, this clarity gives you leverage. You can see precisely where to optimize and where to expand without taking unnecessary risks. You’re not playing the guessing game of building from scratch; you’re stepping into a machine that’s already running efficiently. And that kind of clarity? That’s priceless in today’s uncertain market. If you want to play the game like the pros, stop starting from zero. Acquire a business with a track record of success and scale from there. It’s the fastest, smartest, and most strategic path to growth.

Securing investments and achieving startup growth: It all starts with a solid business model! In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, validating your business model is absolutely crucial. Here's why: Build Investor Confidence: Investors want to see evidence that your business model is viable and scalable. By validating your business model, you demonstrate to investors that you've done your homework, understand your market, and have a clear path to success. Minimize Risk: Validating your business model helps you identify potential flaws or weaknesses early on, allowing you to mitigate risks before they become major obstacles. It's all about testing assumptions, gathering feedback, and making informed decisions based on real data. Customer Focus: A validated business model is rooted in a deep understanding of your customers' needs, pain points, and preferences. By iterating and refining your business model based on customer feedback, you ensure that your product or service truly meets market demand. #Remember, validation is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Whether it's through customer interviews, prototype testing, or market experiments, consistently validating your business model is key to securing investments and driving sustainable growth. #StartupSuccess #BusinessModel #InvestmentReadiness #Validation #SIACVentures

How to build a long-term category-leading business? Building a startup is hard. Building a global category leader is super-hard. How do you push yourself to go on the right path? You need to stop taking shortcuts, and start thinking from first principles. * If you are getting customers because of your past connections or personal-relationships (referrals from friends, family, investors), are they buying your product for the right reasons? Does it really show a product-market-fit? * If you are hiring people by making the highest offer, are they joining you for the right reasons? * If you need to talk about your college-degrees and name-drop your connections to get investors interested in your business, are they investing for the right reasons? I am not saying that you should not exploit your connections, money or college-degrees, but be careful how and when to do it. Taking shortcuts prevents you from doing the hard work of laying a solid foundation. Once the foundation is in place, all these things serve as great levers for nonlinear scale. Most large category leading businesses were built by people who did not have these advantages (connections, rich parents, fancy college degrees). They had to go through the grind and build something super solid (differentiated and valuable) which could stand the test of time. So, not having those advantages could often be an advantage (for building long-term category-leading zero-to-one businesses)! DJI is a great example. They have built such a solid technology/product, that despite all the political backlash and unfair practices being deployed to block them, the end-users just love them, the competition is unable to catch up, and nobody is able to stop them. As a business, that is the position that you need to aspire to be in. It is so sad to see their competitors' biggest USP being "Made not in China". Will they ever be able to catch up if they continue to get funding and customers for the "wrong" reasons? They need to genuinely aspire to build products better than DJI, if they really want to be in it for the long term. Yes, it is tempting to exploit one of those "advantages" to get ahead. But, at what cost? By being lazy and not choosing to do the "right" things, you are depriving yourself of the opportunity to build a long-term sustainable business. Who said it was going to be easy? ;-)