Make Sure Your Business Idea Has A Fighting Chance
by Startacus Admin
Some great pointers from Joseph Benn on how to avoid the Dragons-Den-like humiliation when your idea is broken down (and into pieces). Startacus will be using some of these tips for sure...
Dragons Den....The entrepreneurs presentation is going really well.
All of a sudden the Dragons ask a question the entrepreneur has not thought about (or more often than not wilfully ignored). Cue music change and quick commentary from Evan Davis and we all snuggle in to watch another person get ripped apart in the Den. This humiliation could easily have been avoided if the entrepreneur had put a little more thought into their idea.
You may have no intention on going into the Den but if you have a business idea then you’ll want to be as sure as possible that’s its viable in reality. The truth is that you will never know whether your idea will truly be successful until you’ve set it up and run it for a period of time. However there are some things will indicate whether your idea has a fighting chance. I have helped young people set up businesses for over seven years and based on that experience I formulated questions that should be answered. Some of these questions are as follows:
You (always start off with you because you’re the one that’s going to make your idea happen)
Does this idea go against any of your values?
Do you have the time to make this idea happen?
Do you have the knowledge/skills/contacts to make this idea happen?
Do you have the money to make this idea happen?
Is your partner/spouse/family behind you?
Market (It amazes me how many people fall in love with their idea and decide to go ahead without checking whether other people will love their idea as much as them)
Is there a market for your product/service? WarDucks raises €3.3m led by EQT Ventures to launch location-based augmented reality mobile game and to expand the company’s development team. Leading UK water and wastewater company United Utilities has launched its second accelerator programme to help innovative businesses grow and develop their solutions through a collaborative approach. Entries are now open for upSTART, Northern Ireland’s most exciting startup pitch competition which features an all-expenses paid trip to explore the New York tech scene for the winner. What are the main types of financing and investing options that are available to an early-stage Northern Ireland startup? Here are some tips, courtesy of accountancy experts Howlader&Co, on how to generate substantial profits by maximising productivity in your startup. The Manchester based startup that is on a mission to transform the energy system... Developing Experts empower teachers and parents to teach science with confidence and ease, with an ever-growing library of interactive, online science lessons. Startups focused on Connected Digital Mobility, including connected vehicles, autonomous travel, smart cities, future transport services, take note! The online marketplace where you can buy goods directly from independent retailers all in one place.
Can you reach that market?
Is that market big enough?
Who is your competition?
How are you different from them?
Is there room for you in this market? If not can you make room?
Will this market buy your idea more than once?
What will the market be like 5 years from now? – never look at the market of today always look at tomorrows market as this is most likely the one you will be entering.
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- United Utilities launches Innovation Lab 2.0 21st Mar 2019 Leading UK water and wastewater company United Utilities has launched its second accelerator programme to help innovative businesses grow and develop their solutions through a collaborative approach.
- Northern Ireland startups sought for upSTART 2019 21st Mar 2019 Entries are now open for upSTART, Northern Ireland’s most exciting startup pitch competition which features an all-expenses paid trip to explore the New York tech scene for the winner.
- IlluminationLAB to power energy focused startup innovation 5th Mar 2019 American Electric Power (AEP) has launched IlluminationLAB which will include a bootcamp, energy summit & 10-week proof of concept program to co-create innovative energy products and services.
- Startup World cup returns to Belfast for 2019 27th Feb 2019 The Startup World cup returns to Belfast for 2019 with the NI regionals held on 25 March and once again delivered by Belfast Global Shapers.
