We hear more and more often about start ups, that is, according to the definition of Steve Blanck that "temporary organization which has the aim of seeking and validating a scalable and repeatable business model". Anyone who has an original idea thinks of launching it with a startup, perhaps neglecting that it is not simply a miniature company but an entity that must be cared for and nurtured to grow and prosper, to produce profit. Here, then, is everything you need to know to set up an innovative startup.
One of the fundamental steps for creating a startup is that of the idea, the right intuition needed to start the mechanism. Many people have ideas that may seem brilliant but few of them become real companies, so a very important phase for the creation of new startup businesses is that of validating the initial intuition. We need to ask ourselves a series of questions about the originality of the business, about the most appropriate timing to launch it on the market, and about the public's appreciation for it. Only after having collected accurate answers to these questions will it be possible to proceed with the actual foundation.
There cannot be a digital startup without adequate IT equipment because most of them are based on a particular website, app and software, which represent the true heart of innovation. In some cases, the professionals needed to deal with these very important aspects are found directly within the new company; much more often, however, it is necessary to identify an external reality that can meet these needs and that shows that it has all the necessary characteristics to do it best.
Are there some sectors that are better than others for creating a startup? Not necessarily, although there are certainly some that can guarantee a greater chance of success. For example, the field of new technologies, the web and artificial intelligence they are those in which there has been a proliferation of startups in recent years because they are the ones affected by greater development. In general, however, everything relating to services for people is particularly suitable as a business object for an innovative company just launched on the market.
First of all, to open a startup you need to have a precise idea of organization and this can be achieved exclusively through the drafting of a business plan that takes into consideration all the positive and negative sides of the project, the competition, the market opportunities, the reference target to which the product or service is aimed, etc. Subsequently it is necessary to proceed with the executive phase, in which more technical details are defined such as the corporate form of the startup, the team, the business model and all the other aspects that make up a real company. Finally, the plan is started with the payment of the share capital, the incorporation through a notary deed and everything that is bureaucratically needed to start the project.
One of the most important issues when talking about starting a startups is that of the costs that must be incurred to make it actually operational. The expenses to be incurred strictly depend on the type of company that you intend to open: an innovative srl has a notary cost of around 2600 euros while that for the opening of a simplified one reaches just 500 euros. Beyond the notary and opening costs, however, there are others that concern stamps and government concessions. Fortunately, a startup is exempt from paying secretarial fees and chamber fees. In addition to the formal costs, it is also important to evaluate the out-of-pocket expenses for carrying out the project. Having a good idea for a startup is important but excellent "execution" is fundamental. If the team of founders does not already express all the necessary skills, it is advisable to evaluate support from professionals or specialized companies in particular for the creation prototype technique to fully validate the business idea quickly and effectively.
You don't always have the funds necessary to launch your startup, so it is important to understand if there are alternative forms of financing. Even in this case the solutions are many and different. Those who are unable to cover their expenses with bootstrapping, i.e. self-financing, can try a crowdfunding activity or by involving friends and relatives in the idea. There are also so-called business angels, i.e. entrepreneurs who believe in the project and decide to take part in it in exchange for a small share of capital. Finally, there are the incubatorsand startup accelerators which have the specific task of helping these particular realities, even with the payment of capital shares.
There are several examples of innovative startups that can be an inspiration to those who are about to embark on this new adventure. For example Casavo, an app that allows you to sell a house quickly, in just 30 days; or Andreban, the startup born from the idea of two teenagers from Lecce that offers technological services ranging from drones to 3D printing up to the use of powerful remote servers.
There are many tools that can facilitate the opening and management of a startup. First of all, at the end of the article we point out some initiatives and projects from which to draw the right training foundations to be able to open your own innovative company. Then it is necessary to identify a reliable digital partner that is able to offer all those web, cloud, mobile app and internal management services to facilitate communication operations both for the team and for its consumers. In fact, only by having the right tools available will you be able to best launch your idea business.
Training courses and resources for starting a startup
Start business free course to develop business ideaspromoted by the Innovative Services Section of Confindustria Chieti Pescara
One million euros in the Marche for innovative start-ups
Portal becomes an entrepreneur
