亚当·米切尔，my2be创始人
Manchester Digital hosted the launch session for their 启动激活 programme on Thursday 25th January, 2024, a new programme designed to equip early stage startups in Greater Manchester with the tools, 资源, 知识加速成功.
The session focused on how to take an idea to early traction, as we were joined by experienced founder Adam Mitcheson (my2be, 学院), followed by the do’s 和 don’ts that startups should consider as the start to grow, 和尼古拉·塞尔, TLT合伙人, 分享她的见解.
The 启动激活 programme is delivered in partnership with TLT LLP), 拷数据, Zendesk, Praetura合资企业, 英国科技集群集团 和 Bruntwood科技.
Adam Mitcheson shares his tips for startup success at the 启动激活 Launch Session
Adam Mitcheson kicked off the event by sharing some of his insights on how to take your idea to early traction, based on his experiences as founder of my2be. The session covered everything from idea validation to building your MVP 和 tips around investments.
Adam的一些重点内容:
- The first thing to ask yourself is “why?” - why the problem, why your solution, why now 和 why you?
- 去你的客户所在的地方, 即使你还没有, 验证您的解决方案的需求.
- 说到打造你的MVP, strip it back to the most basic working version of what you’re trying to achieve.
- Launch it, get feedback, use that data 和 then launch again.
- Having a co-founder is much easier than launching on your own, in the early days you’ll both be wearing lots of different hats.
- When it comes to investment, the first thing to consider is do you need to fundraise? A lot of investors want to see that this is going to happen with or without them, 和 their investment will simply accelerate it.
- Investors will want to see that you have proven t在这里 is sufficient dem和 for your solution.
Nina Searle, TLT合伙人, at the 启动激活 Launch Session
The second part of the session featured Nicola Searle, TLT合伙人, sharing her do’s 和 don’ts for startups to consider as they grow. 其中包括以下技巧:
- Do start with the end in mind - if you know what you’re shooting for you can work back 和 work out what your strategy is 和 put milestones in place.
- Do have a business plan - make sure it’s credible, 有金融模型, 产品路线图, 市场路线, 人员需求和关键招聘.
- Don’t rush to recruit - bringing the wrong person in at the wrong time can derail your business, but if it does happy act swiftly to deal with it.
- Don’t rush to issue shares or options - this can lead to former employees owning an unproportional amount of shares given their contribution. If you are going to go down this route seek legal advice.
- Do build your network - meet people, get advice, plug into your local ecosystem. Look for people who have been t在这里 和 done it 和 can offer an impartial critical view.
- Do build a board - it’s important to have good governance, increasingly so for investors!
- Do spent time with professional advisers - it’s very often the case that if you’d spoken to a lawyer for an hour then you wouldn’t be in a position w在这里 you need to speak to one for 20! Exploit all opportunities to get free advice.
- Don’t get distracted - t在这里 will be so many things you want to do with your idea but get your MVP 和 work out your core customers.
- Do your homework - if you’re looking to take on investors then do your homework, 保护你的知识产权, get your contracts in place 和 make sure your books are in order.
- Do look after your mental health 和 wellbeing - this is even more true for sole founders, who could in a single day find themselves CEO, 首席技术官, 首席财务官, 销售, 人力资源等! Make sure you take the time to look after yourself.
