Oxford Economics – Bada Business

How To Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes That Cause Startups Failure?

India is the 3^rd largest startup ecosystem. Though the immense growth and support for startups is a pleasant change, the hard fact is that most of the startups in India fail within 5 years of their launch, as per a report by IBM Institute for Business Value and Oxford Economics.

One major reason behind the failure of any startup is the lack of innovation. But that’s not it! Another factor that contributes to startup failure is not learning from past mistakes and repeating them. Here is a list of five common pitfalls that every entrepreneur makes at the early stages that could cost them their dream venture:

1. Not Hiring People Who Think Out Of the Box!

Many entrepreneurs hire people just like themselves. Avoiding this trap is essential to make a startup business successful. Without people who challenge the stereotypes and the founders’ thinking, a startup fails to identify new opportunities or spot risks until it’s too late.

Avoiding this trap is essential to make a startup business successful. Startups should hire people who think out of the box and know no creative boundaries. The diversity of ideas, skill sets, and backgrounds are the key essentials of every successful startup. You can watch amazing videos by Dr. Vivek Bindra- the best business coach in India to learn how to hire the right people for your organization!

2. Rushing After Funds

Capital is essential. But this does not mean that every startup should rush after it. Speed is important, yes, but without breaks, it will result only in a misadventure. Finding a balance speed to find the right fit is equally essential.

Finding perfect Venture Capital is just like finding the right partner for marriage. Take enough time to find the right match- and avoid jumping at the first or the most extensive check.

To avoid a situation like that, put in a considerable amount of time to find a VC partner that will provide thoughtful guidance, and mentorship and will be there for you during the challenges.

3. They Don’t Consider Customer’s Pain Points

Too often founders get overly enthusiastic about their ideas related to their product or service. They often believe that once they build a product, customers will come. But building a product or a service without any customer validation or A/B testing can be dangerous for a business.

Instead, founders of startups should always find an alpha customer and then create a product to solve the customer`s biggest pain point. Creating a customer-centric product doesn’t happen by just sitting around a conference table brainstorming. The idea to build an amazing product comes from seeking out and tackling the real problems in the world that already exist. If you are confused about your business growth, you can hire the best business coach in India.

4. No Go-to-Market Plan

Entrepreneurs should document a clear and concise path to their profitability. To chart this document they should conduct rigorous research and analysis that challenge their market estimates.

This requires an in-depth knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of their market competitors. They should also determine the company’s proprietary advantage in each market segment it is looking to penetrate.

It is also important to be prepared in advance to be able to shift the business with technological advancement or according to customer needs. And while adaptability is crucial, having a focused plan is also essential. As a startup the resources are generally limited, thus, it is important to be laser-focused for maximum impact.

5. Lack of Strategic Partnerships

Many startups think about partnerships just in terms of capital and checks. But startups also require strategic alliances that will help them refine their business models, and new customers, scale revenues, and generate market awareness.

By making partnerships with large and established companies, startups can save costs on R&D resources and the expertise of their professional team.

Want to know what are the other pitfalls that entrepreneurs should avoid? Know it all from the top industry experts with our Business Coaching Program. To know more, click here: www.badabusiness.com

5 Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Should Avoid When Raising Funds

Summary: A startup`s fundraising efforts depend on its ability to make itself and its business ideas appealing. Here are five common mistakes every entrepreneur must avoid.

According to a report by IBM Institute for Business Value & Oxford Economics, over 90% of Indian startups fail miserably within 5 years of inception.

Starting a business is a pricey process. From hosting a website to hiring the right people, everything can quickly add up to the cost of the company. So unless you are independently wealthy or able to monetize right away, you will need large funds to foot the bills.

However, it does not mean that you should start rushing to people and start asking them for money to raise funds for your startup business. Before you think about raising funds, stop and consider the best way to raise money sustainably for your business. You can also hire a business coach to help you raise funds.

To ensure that your startup runs smoothly, we have listed out a list of fundraising mistakes that every entrepreneur must avoid:

1. Raising Capital too Early

When you have invested your own money in your business, you can stop the project anytime. But once you borrow money from investors, you will feel intensified pressure to make your business a huge success. You will have to give away a lot of equity in your company if you go this route. Hence, try to bootstrap your business and try to use existing resources to avoid the extra pressure.

2. Not Seeking Professional Advice

Entrepreneurs are often independent and self-sufficient. Hence, they often try to overcome any obstacle on their come that comes their way. While this conquering spirit is part of what makes entrepreneurs great, it can also be a fault. When raising funds for your startup, it’s critically important to seek the advice of professionals to better understand your funding needs and requirements. Consulting a business coach with real valuation experience can help you save your time and money on the wrong decisions down the road.

3. Not Raising Enough Funds

Some entrepreneurs ask for less funding than they require. It is the biggest fundraising mistake that can lead to the shutdown of the startup. Always ask for the amount by keeping your financial requirement as realistic as possible. Don`t worry about scaring investors by asking for the amount of money you will require for your business. To know step by step process of fund raising, watch here:

4. Lack of Clear Objectives

Having a clear goal in mind is essential to raise capital investment. Figuring out how much money you need to reach your next milestone is essential. From operational costs to essential professional services, determine how much capital you need. Not having a clear idea is another mistake that every entrepreneur must avoid.

5. Giving up too Much of the Company

One of the worst fundraising mistakes that entrepreneurs can make is giving up too much ownership of the company. While a deal that includes a good portion of your company might seem appealing, you could end up paying a much higher cost down the road.

Try to keep ownership within the company. Find out ways to raise or access funds which are more feasible.

Also, don’t forget to build and create relationships as you may come across people who can help you with investment. If you don’t know where to begin, start by making a list of businesses that intrigue you. You can use tools such as AngelList and Crunchbase to get a sense of the investors behind each project. You can also hire a business coach who can help you with networking.

These mistakes might appear small, however, if you want to successfully run your business, avoid falling into the trap of repeating these costly mistakes. Want to know the fundamental rules of fundraising?

Take our ‘Problem Solving Courses’ and gain in-depth knowledge about raising funds. To know more, visit: https://www.badabusiness.com/psc