Starting a business is a challenge in itself. It requires significant business, managerial, design, and financial skills. You need to understand the market, collaborators, and potential customers. And crucially, the idea you want to realize must be profitable; otherwise, the startup will fail.
So what advice can we offer to those navigating the vast ocean of startups—trying to ride the waves rather than be devoured by sharks?
Everything Revolves Around the Why
It’s the purpose, the reason the company exists. This is what sets you apart from the competition—the reason why customers will choose your product over another. It’s a foundational element that shapes the company’s identity, both internally (within the team) and externally (to clients and the market).
Build the Team Like a Puzzle
The team is the core of the startup. Every team member contributes to the success or failure of the business. The team should be diverse (in skills and experiences) and complementary, like puzzle pieces: different, but all part of the same picture.
Product as a Solution
Focusing on the product is essential—designing and building it with the needs it aims to meet always in mind. The product should be understood as a solution to real needs of your potential customers. This approach prevents teams from falling in love with their own ideas and shifts the focus from internal desires to external market demands.
Discovering Your Customers
No matter how beautiful or innovative your product is, without customers willing to buy it, the startup will fail. A critical mistake is focusing solely on the product while neglecting customers. It’s essential to know who your customers are, where to find them, and through which channels to connect with them.
Brand as a Flag
Once you’ve defined your purpose, built a strong team, designed a solid product, and identified your customer target, it’s essential to build a brand capable of communicating the values, technical features, and emotional aspects suited to your market segment.
A brand is a company’s flag: it represents the business identity and must be unique, recognizable, and memorable. It’s the centerpiece around which all marketing and communication efforts revolve.
Launching a startup demands passion, courage, determination, and a lot of work. A great idea alone is not enough—there are many challenges to face. It’s the team members who make the real difference, with their dedication and the support they give each other during difficult moments.
Skills are the lifeline of any team: the ability to execute is the key to planning, building, and handling the unexpected. That’s why founder schools are essential.
As Aristotle said: “Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your calling.”
