Entrepreneur Insights

16/02/2017

Angel Investors for Startups

At one timе, angel invеѕtоrѕ ореrаtеd almost ѕоlеlу оn аn informal basis. There wеrе individuаlѕ or groups of реорlе рооling thеir mоnеу whо agreed tо make buѕinеѕѕ loans for nеw buѕinеѕѕ соnсерtѕ, but thеу kерt еvеrуthing strictly informal. Thаt сhаngеd аѕ fоrmаl invеѕting groups bеgаn tо fоrm for thе purpose […]

11/04/2016

Solving Problems: A Startup’s Ladder to Success

Many startup founders nowadays are looking for ideas to work on, when in fact, they should be looking for problems to solve. From their initial product presentation to their potential investors and clients, these founders spend numerous pages on explaining how awesome their product and technology is, but never on what problems their product or technology can solve.

15/03/2016

Business Incubators on Igniting Success for Startups

Many of those who plan to build a startup often find themselves turning to startup incubators for help. These incubators are institutions that assist early stage companies to achieve growth and success. They also serve as a bridge for startups to gain angel investors and other necessary connections that they need to establish themselves in the business.

18/02/2016

Expertise, a requirement for startups: True or False?

A lot of people find it ridiculous for someone to start a business in an industry in which he has almost no background. Expertise, for instance, pertains to a person’s in-depth knowledge on a certain area or field, enabling him to come up with effective solutions and thoughts on the subject matter and its scope - which would come not only by pure intellect, but with experience as well.

12/01/2016

In a Tough Job Market, Should You Trust Your Career to a Startup?

You’ve got two job offers at hand – one from a startup and one from a reputable company in your field. While improving your career in the corporate world would mean plenty of benefits, using your expertise to help a startup achieve its goals can be rewarding in so many ways.

29/12/2015

Why is Networking Essential for Startups?

Networking is one of the most important skills that every entrepreneur should possess. Growing your network of communication will strengthen your presence in the world of business, making it easier for you to approach other entrepreneurs from different fields of interests.

08/12/2015

Improving through Competitive Landscapes

Identifying who you are competing with in the field is something that’ is crucial to your success- not only will you be able to pinpoint who your rivals are, but studying their strategies and understanding how they operate as well can get you one step ahead of the game.

25/11/2015

Presenting the overall health of your company

When it comes to business, it is highly important for investors to see the company’s financial standing as this directly reflects the market’s interest and acceptance of a company’s products and services. One of the most fundamental facts about businesses is that the operating performance of the firm shapes its financial structure. However, it is also true that the financial situation of the firm can also determine its operating performance.

16/11/2015

A note on financial models

In the process of choosing startups to support, one of the most important factors that your potential investors will consider would be your financial model. Known as the Rosetta stone for startups, financial models predict a company’s future performance by studying its financial history – revealing the strategies and tactics of how to bring a certain product to the market.

28/10/2015

Developing the correct pitch deck

In the world of business, an entrepreneur’s pitch deck captures the pulse and essence of the business. Known to be a very effective tool in terms of attracting potential investors, one’s pitch deck must be made with utmost creativity and style. Given that the deck gives a quick overview of your business plan through a quick glance, it is utmost important to make sure that all your ideas are presented coherently and in a succinct manner.

20/10/2015

Creating the Perfect Business Pitch

Presenting your business ideas to the world is definitely vital and worth the preparation that it entails. It’s one of the most important aspects to widen your horizons, as well as to attract the attention of your potential investors. This is what we call a “pitch.” It is an elucidation of your business idea to allow both investors and audiences alike to be more interested in your business proposition. It is basically verbalizing your business plan. It serves as the opening salvo, and the “hook” by which you can capture the attention of your target market.

21/09/2015

Working with Mentors: The Key to a Successful Start-up

Now that you have the perfect ideas in mind, it’s time to start your journey to success. Getting all prepped up with financial assistance and stability is great, but with all the competition around, money is just not enough. There will be a lot of challenges ahead, and you definitely […]

18/09/2015

Teamwork: When the Sum is Greater than its Parts

In the world of entrepreneurship, it is undeniable that working alone is not only synonymous to less productivity; it also means limiting your chances of success. Clearly, you can’t get through your startup phase when it’s only you who’s moving. You’ll eventually need help from the people around you- and […]

31/08/2015

How old is too old to start a business?

How old is too old to start a business? Being in your mid 30s qualifies you as a late bloomer? Is it better to be an early achiever or a late bloomer? That’s the same as asking if it is better to start Facebook at 19 or IBM at 61? For the world at large it does not matter. Perhaps Facebook could never happen if IBM did not exist. Life goes on longer than you may think it does. Most people don't achieve "success" e.g. financial, career, social stability until their 30's. Until then you really don't even know who you are or what you truly value from life.

10/08/2015

Journey of a Social Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship isn't just about selling things; it's about finding innovative ways to improve people's lives. New generation of entrepreneurs are using approaches from the commercial world and employing technology to tackle social and environmental problems. Responsible entrepreneurs are those who grow businesses, ensuring stakeholder success and are conscious of how they do business ethically. They are the people who bring new business ideas and fulfill the promise of entrepreneurship by contributing towards creation of a better world.

29/07/2015

Entrepreneurship an art of survival | How she did it

Do you ever wonder what it takes to build a company from scratch into a successful venture in a male dominated society? Well, there are probably few women entrepreneurs who have done it. One of them is Bindu Sharma of MSMBox.com and her story is one of intrigue and interest. […]

05/06/2015

Clarity on fund requirement and deployment a must have for start-ups

If funding is the fuel to a start-up, then fill your tank enough for the start-up to take off and ensure that it doesn’t crash. Keep in mind though, that several rounds of refueling may be required at different stages in the timeline of a start-up to keep it afloat. Clarity on the requirement and allocation of funds at each stage is imperative. For the number of start-ups that fail due to lack of funds, an equal number of start-ups fail due to over-abundance of those very funds.

23/05/2015

Scalability is the Key

Those who believe that start-ups are destined for rapid growth, acknowledge that scalability is the key. Therein lies the difference between a start-up and a business. A start-up is essentially an idea that can quickly be turned into a profitable company. Small businesses which simply do not have a vision or a growth plan to scale can never be termed as start-ups for the same reason. These businesses, although self-sustaining and at times huge in nature, are small in terms of design and therefore deemed non investable. Most investors put their money into ideas and businesses which can be scaled and most start-ups strive for a scalable and high growth business model.

21/05/2015

The A team: set up and retain the best people

One question that usually escapes the minds of most entrepreneurs today is: Is there anything else I need to do once I have all the funding and market research that I require before I hit the start button? It so happens that attracting top talent and retaining them through the initial months and years is for sure, one of the true catalysts for ensuring success for your start-up. Why is a strong core team indispensable?

30/04/2015

The Viable Business Advantage: Know it

A common mistake most entrepreneurs make is misreading competitive advantage for a business plan. As any failed product / company’s review will quickly reveal, the primary reason for not making it was because of some else’s competitive edge that edged everyone else out eventually. For a start-up seeking to blow away and impress potential investors, a viable or sustainable business advantage or competitive edge is what shines through.

07/04/2015

Proof of Concept and Business Viability

For start-ups, cash is always, well, expensive—and elusive. Early stage investors (HNIs, Angels, friends and family, Seed Funds) who are themselves usually investor-evangelists, need a demonstrated, tested and ‘battle-hardened’ concept before parting with funds. Therefore, start-ups and entrepreneurs need to go beyond their great ideas and get down to figuring out and eventually, walking the talk. A proof of concept (PoC) makes you aware of your challenges and the future road-map, thereby, raising the level of confidence of your potential investors in your business idea and team commitment.

30/03/2015

START-UP – INVESTOR READINESS QUOTIENT

For a start-up looking at funding, be it seed, angel or even equity-based, it is critical to be ready for investment. This is necessary because not only does this help the new business get going with a head-start but it is also necessary for the entrepreneur to see how far his idea can convert to reality in the real practical sense. To get investors interested and ‘locked-in’, deliberating your investor-readiness quotient does make eminent sense.