A lot of budding entrepreneurs and dreaming of making it big by starting a tech business. Many people have it in their heads that it can’t be that difficult to start a tech enterprise from the comfort of their bedroom that will expand into a billion-dollar business in no time. They imagine the monoliths of Google and Facebook, developed in garages and dorm rooms, with young adults barely out of college making absurd amounts of money for their technological efforts.
But, as with many things in life, finding success in this field isn’t quite as easy as many assume. If you’re looking to start a thriving tech business, then this is the article for you. Here’s how you hit the ground running with such an endeavor.
The idea
What is an entrepreneur? Traditionally, it’s someone who designs, launches, and runs a business. And how does one do this? It’s not just about having the savvy to convince investors and audiences to give you loads of money; it’s about identifying a common problem and fixing it. You need to get familiar with the right techniques and approaches for brainstorming a startup. You also need to ensure you have the unwavering drive that’s also associated with strong entrepreneurship. Not everyone agrees on an idea; many investors have sniggered and balked at ideas that eventually made billions.
The audience
You may assume you know who your audience is: tech-savvy teens, right? Well, you may be interested to know that companies that take a "making tech for Mum" approach are often the ones that really push their innovations forward. Don’t make the mistake of assuming you know precisely who your perfect audience will be, either in terms of engagement or business progression. Do market research carefully, identify the best demographic for you - but don’t dismiss other demographics that could aid your business in the long run.
The skills and knowledge
There are many entrepreneurs out there in this field who had an idea but didn’t quite have the skills required to make their idea a reality by themselves. You might have an amazing idea for a website or a piece of software, but what if you don’t know any code? In that case, you’ll have to work with a programmer! But you need to ensure that you’re working with someone who shares your passion, drive, and vision. You also need to work together to get some formal agreements on paper to ensure that the idea and concomitant work is legally protected in the interests of both parties.
The business brains
You think Mark Zuckerberg had a head for business before he formally worked with Eduardo Saverin? (That’d be the guy played by Andrew Garfield in The Social Network!) It’s not really enough to have an ideas person and a coder. You also need someone who knows how to get investment, to get audiences hyped, to arrange for publicity, to do some accounting work. Perhaps you have the skills to do all of these things. But if you’re coding and coming up with ideas, you should also consider devoting your time to those things and working with a business consultant to help ensure you get the best productivity possible.