The Startup Blog - Week 1...
by Startacus Admin
Lauren is about to start her own business and on a weekly basis is going to share a little of her journey on Startacus...Over to Lauren with week 1's blog post...
Week 1...
Like many entrepreneurs, I always dreamed of starting my own business. A corporate job was a sensible option for me but I longed to escape the meeting room and daily commute for something more exciting. Over the years I have thought about many ideas for a business start-up, and earlier this year I decided to set up my own spa company with a spa product line and day spa operations.
It was several months into researching and writing a business plan when I ended up scrapping my business idea completely. This is where my story takes a turn, and where the beginnings of my start up actually took place. I was at home one day and getting frustrated over a problem that had quietly featured in my life for many years. I wished, just wished, that someone had approached it differently. How much easier that would make things.
That is when it occurred to me. I wasn’t wishing a knight to my rescue. This was a problem I could solve myself. I had a flash of inspiration and I knew what I wanted to do. The spa idea was scrapped, and I began frantically writing down my idea.
I starting looking for competitors, looked at the potential market, and investigated whether other customers faced the same issue I had encountered. The business idea looked viable, and this information formed the basis of my business plan.
Over the next few weeks my business plan took shape as I refined my idea, put together the financials and did further market research. Of course, it was easy to read through my idea and give myself a pat on the back for my inventiveness but I knew that would never swing it in the business world. If this was viable, I had to send this business plan out to people I trusted and people who would challenge me, so that is exactly what I did. I asked those I trusted to give me an honest critique of it. That was a great step. It really pushed my idea and each time my assumptions were challenged it make me work harder to refine my plan and make it more robust.
So what is this grand idea, you ask? Well, I want you to keep reading my diary over the next few weeks so I’m not going to announce it yet. I will save that for a later date. In the meantime, I’m starting work on my prototype and I’m applying for some funding. I’ll talk more about that in my next diary entry. (and if by magic - it appears just here!)
About the author: Lauren is an entrepreneur and author of www.theglitteringeyesbrigade.com – a blog about her journey in starting her own business
If you like what you see here on Startacus, why not become a member of our growing community? It's free! And you'll get all this - exclusive access to our Business Toolkit, discounts and offers galore for your business via our member only business deals, the chance to network and connect with loads of fellow self-starters, and maybe even become our celebrated 'Self-Starter of the Week' and tell the world your startup tale! Join right here for free
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
The lowdown on Koalaa, the London-based startup that's innovating soft prosthetics for babies, children and adults
Changemakers sought by National enterprise charity, Hatch Enterprise for its three new Impact programmes aimed at entrepreneurs using business as a force for good
Ten innovative startups with the potential to shape the future have been named as finalists in INVENT 2021, Northern Ireland’s challenging competition for early stage businesses
.jpeg)
Kyle Murtagh of Toastmasters International shares insights and tips on providing feedback to your team that is effective, constructive and inspiring too
Enterprise North West and Startacus collaborate with a group of students from NWRC to create Week Gen-C, a part- employability, part-career and part-entrepreneurship focused digital project & channel
.jpeg)
Having a strong team around you is key - these basic tips highlight all the things that you'll need to consider...
Vehicle management platform, Caura raises major seed funding to support its mission of reducing stress and expense of driving in the UK
The lowdown on Peroptyx, the machine learning startup that helps companies refine their AI systems with real-world human insight and feedback
The lowdown on Greenfinity, the smart designer system that lets you grow your favourite herbs and other plants throughout the year
Diversity & Inclusion Toolkit launched by Tech Nation to help tech founders and their employees create more diverse and inclusive businesses, and provide equal opportunities for all in UK tech
Published on: 3rd June 2013
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Youth Entrepreneurship, Employability and Careers Project 21st Jun 2021 Enterprise North West and Startacus collaborate with a group of students from NWRC to create Week Gen-C, a part- employability, part-career and part-entrepreneurship focused digital project & channel
- Caura raises $4.2m seed round 18th Jun 2021 Vehicle management platform, Caura raises major seed funding to support its mission of reducing stress and expense of driving in the UK
- ECOncrete Wins EU H2020 Funding 16th Jun 2021 ECOncrete Wins EU H2020 Funding to Lead the “LIVING PORTS” Project to Deploy Next-Generation Port Infrastructure
- Calling on all 18-30 year-olds in the UK with innovative business ideas 14th Jun 2021 Innovate UK and The Prince’s Trust are seeking 18-30-year-olds with ambitious business ideas that could turn into important innovations
