They want to discuss their next big thing. In coffee shops, in late-night texts, even in weddings—”I have this startup idea.” But starting a startup—how is this done? That is a different animal. The leap between an idea and a company is like a canyon without a bridge. You don’t walk over—you build something in mid-air.
I remember a student of mine who took over a year “tinkering” with his idea for an app. Continuously told me he was “close.” Never launched. Analysis paralysis is a real phenomenon and it will destroy momentum. What sets entrepreneurs apart from dreamers is taking imperfect, messy, persistent action.
Table of Contents
Test the Waters Before Building the Ark
If it exists only in your head, it hasn’t ripened. Stick holes in it. Get real people to react. And not Mom. Cold audiences. Tough ones. That’s how you know if it’s solving a real problem.
One of my former colleagues once built a logistics program for chain restaurants. It was sophisticated. But none of them were really looking for a follow-up program; they were looking for additional training aids. That was a pivot he made after spending thousands. Had he validated sooner, he would have saved time, money, and a few gray hairs.
For working out how to start a startup, this is a chapter that gets skipped—and it is the absolute worst thing you can possibly do.
Forget Passion: Read the Battlefield
Most chase “what they love” rather than what is in demand in the market. The objective is to reconcile what excites you with what other people will pay for. That requires research—and not emotions.
Begin small. Take advantage of low-cost tools. Google Trends, Reddit communities, communities where your potential customers are complaining. Find gaps. Patterns. Unmet needs. How to build a startup with a real hope of succeeding. Begin where there is most complaining.
I previously worked with three undergrads on a market research sprint. They killed two ideas and pivoted on a third in a week and had a 200-person pre-sale list. This was all accomplished before a development dollar was ever spent.
Don’t Romanticize Fundraising
No fundraising will correct a bad product or a bad vision. And if it will take a $50k to even get things launched at all, then you’re most likely doing it wrong.
Bootstrap where possible. Part-time freelance. Borrow equipment (or expertise) from people in your network. Surprise yourself at what gets accomplished due to stringent constraints. That is brute reality of launching an unpaid startup—cutting fat and fixing a real problem.
Only see VCs or angels when you have traction. Otherwise, you’re selling them a dream, not a business. And believe me—they know.
Your First Employees Will Be a Defining Point
I have seen startups implode because of people issues, not product issues. Founders bring in friends in hopes they “get” them. This is a mistake.
You require generalists in the beginning. Builders. Individuals who do not need their hands held. Who learn as quickly as they do. When you are attempting to determine how to start a long-term startup business, it is less a matter of having a complete org chart—and more a matter of having trench soldiers.
And thus indeed, culture is required, but it’s not Slack emojis or beanbags. It’s values in common in adversity. And you will know it when somebody gets up at night to fix a bug nobody asked them to.
Own Your On-line Presence Before Someone Else Does
Too many founders are forgetting this. They begin, begin pitching, and discover another party owns the domain or their proposed brand is on Instagram.
The answer is simple: lock it down early. Domains, social handles, e-mail. And for clean and good branding reasons, have them be uniform. If you ever need to rebrand or transition to different accounts, it is simple to change your e-mail—around 73% of founders fail to update it throughout and miss out on leads and trust.
Your online presence is your startup’s handshake. It must be firm, clear, and consistent.
When You Launch, Don’t Whisper
No soft opening. No whispering in hopes it will be overheard. Call out. Loudly.
This is not about spending money on advertising. This is about hitting every touch point that is relevant: cold emailing, niche subreddits, Product Hunt, live events, DMs. Connect. Solicit feedback. Talk about mission, not product.
A launch is never a one-bang situation—it is a series of pulses. If actually you have cracked something hurting, people will be interested. But only if you share.
Stay in the Fight
No one explains to you how lonely it is. Or what failure tastes like. But I have seen great people quit at month four when things didn’t explode. Growth is non-linear.
Almost 90% of startups fail due to founders burning out or losing confidence. And not because they didn’t have a great idea. If you are in the trenches of learning to build a business, let me be real: stubborn consistency trumps genius 10 out of 10. Establish systems. Mark milestones. Sleep. But stick with it. You never know when it all comes together.
Pivot Is Never a Dirty Word
I have pivoted on more projects than I can count. One SaaS product I originally developed for coaches got used by HR managers in tech companies. That was not the plan—I didn’t anticipate it was where demand and cash would meet.
What you think you are creating is not always what others actually desire. That’s okay. Listen. Evolve. Don’t fall in love with your initial vision. The pivot may be what was truly there the whole time.
FAQs
What are the first 3 things I should do before starting a startup?
Validate your idea, research your target audience, and set up a basic online presence (website + socials + email).
Do I need a tech background to start a startup?
Nope. You need problem-solving skills and the willingness to learn fast. Many non-tech founders hire or partner with developers.
How long does it take to know if a startup is working?
You’ll feel the traction within 3–6 months—emails, sales, user interest. But real stability? That can take 1–2 years of solid, focused effort.
