By Dave Blakey
Throughout
the world, and particularly in emerging market countries, the
entrepreneurial landscape remains notoriously difficult to navigate,
with an estimated 80% of small businesses failing to sustain themselves
for a period of longer than five years.
However, with an
increasing percentage of jobs now being directly attributable to small
business ventures, financial backers in both private and public sectors
are slowly starting to acknowledge the substantial impact of
entrepreneurial activity on a nation’s economy.
Yet, in spite the
rising global trend towards venture capitalist backing of tech startups,
there remain very few such initiatives present in emerging markets. Can
this be accredited to unsustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems, or is
success simply a mind-set shift away?
Conservative investors
A venture capital investor once told me that, out of ten investments, he expected seven to fail, two to return his investment and one to make a fortune. Those are fairly frightening odds for someone investing large amounts of capital, but even more terrifying for someone looking to leave the security of the job market to launch a start-up business.
A venture capital investor once told me that, out of ten investments, he expected seven to fail, two to return his investment and one to make a fortune. Those are fairly frightening odds for someone investing large amounts of capital, but even more terrifying for someone looking to leave the security of the job market to launch a start-up business.
What’s
more, bankers and financiers are generally not intent on funding ideas
that might be perceived as “pie in the sky”, particularly when it comes
to the technical and creative industries.
As a result, it’s no
wonder that many start-ups end before they even crank up the proverbial
engine, the main reason being they couldn’t raise the venture capital
financing required to start, or were simply too afraid to try.
1. Reduce your risks
But there is hope for would-be entrepreneurs looking to make the leap into small business ownership. Many of those at the forefront of today’s tech landscape, including Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, got their starts moonlighting as network engineers or software salesmen, in order to build up a solid track record that financiers were able to trust. This approach to entrepreneurship can take time, but reduces the risk for the more cautious, who are able to earn an income whilst at the same time working to get a business off the ground.
But there is hope for would-be entrepreneurs looking to make the leap into small business ownership. Many of those at the forefront of today’s tech landscape, including Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, got their starts moonlighting as network engineers or software salesmen, in order to build up a solid track record that financiers were able to trust. This approach to entrepreneurship can take time, but reduces the risk for the more cautious, who are able to earn an income whilst at the same time working to get a business off the ground.
2. Refine your business plan
Much of your ability to acquire financial backing and sustain your start-up will come down to the effectiveness of your business plan. A practical, adaptable plan, which takes into account potential stumbling blocks and market shifts, will be your best guide to navigating the minefield facing new business owners.
Much of your ability to acquire financial backing and sustain your start-up will come down to the effectiveness of your business plan. A practical, adaptable plan, which takes into account potential stumbling blocks and market shifts, will be your best guide to navigating the minefield facing new business owners.
Factor in potential
challenges, such as rising interest rates, non-payment by debtors,
electricity cuts, theft of delivery vehicles, declining product demand,
seasonal variations in supply and demand, and so on.
Ultimately, financiers will be looking not only at your ‘big idea’, but also at your ability to sustain and develop it.
3. Do your homework
More often than not, real success comes from doing your homework. There’s no use in launching a revolutionary product if your market simply isn’t ready for it. So do your analysis, beta test your product, see who bites, and don’t ever be afraid to put out a free tester. Once the thumbs go up and the market says “yes please”, then you can start selling, and make a very strong case to potential financiers, who can help you to take your business to the next level.
More often than not, real success comes from doing your homework. There’s no use in launching a revolutionary product if your market simply isn’t ready for it. So do your analysis, beta test your product, see who bites, and don’t ever be afraid to put out a free tester. Once the thumbs go up and the market says “yes please”, then you can start selling, and make a very strong case to potential financiers, who can help you to take your business to the next level.
4. Manage your cash-flow
Potential venture capitalist partners are looking for a solid sales track record. This doesn’t just mean more money; it means giving your prospective venture capital investors something to measure ROI against. If you can manage a solid growing flow of sales, then your prospective VC partners are able to feel a lot more secure about your ability to manage and nurture their seed capital.
Potential venture capitalist partners are looking for a solid sales track record. This doesn’t just mean more money; it means giving your prospective venture capital investors something to measure ROI against. If you can manage a solid growing flow of sales, then your prospective VC partners are able to feel a lot more secure about your ability to manage and nurture their seed capital.
Professional VC companies
have a very strict litmus test on profitability. Most will not accept a
loss-to-win ratio of less than 50%, so you really need to be able to
show them that your idea has the capacity to go all the way, and that
you are the one to take it there.
5. Change your mind-set
In spite of increasing opportunities, going it alone continues to be a frightening prospect, particularly in developing economies.
In spite of increasing opportunities, going it alone continues to be a frightening prospect, particularly in developing economies.
However,
armed with the correct mind-set, and the right amount of hard work,
research and planning, there’s nothing stopping you from turning your
big idea into big business success.
SOURCE: http://memeburn.com
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