investor curveball

What happens if you miss investor curveball questions

According to CBInsights, 38% of startups fail because they run out of cash or fail to raise new capital. To blame are often founders themselves. They don’t convince investors and receive further funding. But why do so many founders struggle here? The curveball you don’t see coming  One major reason why founders fail to raise capital…

Startup TAM

Before setting sail startups need to know the ocean

“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are made for.” Many startup founders are aching for the ocean, but if you set sail before you understand your route and the possible obstacles you’ll encounter, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Instead, take the time to know the ocean before you…

Innovative startups

Innovative startups don’t need groundbreaking technology

As a startup, you know that you need something that helps your company stand out. Something that makes you unique and gives customers a reason to choose you over competitors. Many founders assume that means they need a groundbreaking new technology to start a company. However, recent history shows that technology is not the only…

market size

Market size matters for investors

Starting a new venture means exciting and busy times ahead of you. Chances are that you will need to convince investors that your business has a bright future. One of the most important things investors want to know about is the size of your potential target market. Here is how to assess your market. A…

stages of startup funding

The stages of startup funding you need to know

Idea It’s not always easy to ideate a profitable product or service from scratch. The logistics of funding is often the biggest hurdle in the first stage of a startup. During this stage, you, as an entrepreneur, create a product/service while looking for the ideal problem-solution fit. This involves having clear definitions of the problem and…

Validating your business
  • Blog
  • September 25, 2021

Validating your business idea for future success

Solving Real-World Problems Why do so many startups fail in the first five years? Often it’s because they haven’t fully validated their business idea before they charge forward. It’s common for founders to be filled with passion and optimism, and make some mistakes when it comes to research. The first step is to ensure that you’re solving…

The dream of every startup founder
  • Blog
  • September 19, 2021

Venture fundraising guide

This article is divided into a simple 5 part series as a fundraising guide for founders who are currently raising capital for their startup. 1. Are we investor ready? Start by asking yourself, “What do I have to offer a potential investor?”  You might feel that your story is inspiring and your product or service is…

early investors like metrics

Early investors like metrics and stories

1. Using the Founder Story to Impress Investors Ideas are a dime a dozen, but the ability to transform an idea into a successful product requires a strategic formula. One of the most effective ways to escalate the potential of an idea is to persuade investors to support your dream. The founder story is the…

ingredients for fundraising

The five ingredients you need to make an investable startup

Investors want to get the perfect dish when looking for startups to invest in. Imagine eating a pizza and the sauce is missing. So make sure your startup gets the following five key ingredients right. Team There are several things an investor considers before they invest in any startup. One of the most important is…

raising capital without a product

What are my chances of raising capital without a product or MVP?

3 little secrets to help make it happen We recently met Rita & Rajesh. They have a brilliant idea for a new startup. They do not have a product or MVP but just a clickable demo. Besides, they have never done any business earlier and are not sure how to go about it. They want…