How to Start a Start-up summary

On top of great founders, simplification and delegation, there’s another ingredient central to sustainable start-ups: team members. Not everyone has what it takes to work in a start-up, so what should you be looking for when hiring? And when should you hire?

In the beginning, it’s best to do as much as you can yourself. You’ll need to save every penny to create your product and market it to customers. As your business grows, you’ll need a few extra hands to get things done – and by then, you’ll be able to afford it, too.

If you’re getting ready to go to a job interview, go on a date or meet a group of new people, you would probably try to look your very best. Everybody knows that first impressions go a long way, so why would we think any differently about the first impressions that we give customers? Our first interactions are vital to developing stable relationships with them.

To grab the attention of new customers and keep them coming back, you’ll need to make a good first impression. From e-mail campaigns to public billboards, it’s important that each customer’s first experiences with you are positive and memorable.

Fishing is, a lot of the time, about waiting. Once you’ve tied your line and cast it, all that’s left is to wait for the fish to bite. Fishing for customers, however, is a different story altogether. If we want customers to bite, we need to actively seek them out.

Most start-ups already know who their ideal potential customers are. But do they know how to find them? The key here is building relationships, even on personal levels. And conferences are a great way to make one-on-one connections with prospects.

Most of us would want to get our start-ups up and running with a minimal amount of investor money. After all, it always seems more impressive that way! But at some point, virtually every start-up will need help from investors. In fact, it’s better to get their support while you’re ahead; this protects you from rival start-ups keen to take the lead. So how can you charm investors onto your side?

Investors are always on the lookout for companies with real products that customers love and which are making money. This demonstrates that a start-up is sustainable, that the entrepreneur can stand on her own two feet and that there’s market interest in the product. Investing in these start-ups seems less risky and much more appealing. Start-ups with investor support are then able to grow and compete more effectively.