They say that big things come in small packages; nowhere is this truer than in the world of digital technology. Virtually every tech success story within the last thirty years either began or continues to exist as a relatively small entity. A team of twelve people can change the world if they design the right app and manage its implementation effectively.
Whether a tech startup will become the next Silicon Valley or fade into irrelevance is often determined by the choices that are made at launch. Even if the idea is game-changing, hopes for effectively breaking into the technology market are often dashed if the following factors aren’t properly taken into account:
Name
What to call your company is undoubtedly one of the most important choices to make when launching a tech startup because it is directly linked to the domain name you choose. The company/domain name should be short, pronounceable, and brandable. While many believe that most of the “good names” are taken, there are always new ones waiting to be discovered. It is important to exhaust all options and not settle for something that does not easily roll off the tongue.
Philosophy
All successful businesses have a philosophy – the way they see the world and their goals for how they want their staff to shape it for the better. While specific aspects of your business philosophy are destined to change over time, the heart and soul of a company is determined at the beginning. What does your tech startup stand for? It does not have to be anything political or overly dense; “Don’t be evil” was the internal motto of the world’s most influential tech giant for years. Although Google eventually dropped this particular string of words from their internal memorandum, its legacy lives on within the corporate structure that it helped to build.
Who to Hire (And What to Outsource)
Once the basics have been determined, no other decision will influence a tech startup’s fate greater than the people who are chosen to join its team. The hiring process requires the aspiring small business’ owners and managers to be excellent judges of character. People will always act their best during an interview, so it is your job to see past these façades before inviting them onto your team. Furthermore, diffuse the pressure of the hiring process by opting to outsource some tasks. By outsourcing, a startup has an easier time cutting ties and moving on to an alternative, if need be.
Software
Choosing the right software and cloud-based services might seem like a no-brainer for a startup who is attempting to enter the tech market. After all, isn’t this right in their wheelhouse? This may be true to an extent, but it is also true that those who are at the helm of a startup will overthink this step and swing for the fences.
Instead, focus on choosing applications and platforms with a history of being user-friendly and effective. For example, have employees use cloud productivity software designed to let them work independently and collaborate easily. Pick options that do not require hours of onboarding. You want your startup to hit the ground running, not stall in the starting gate.
In some ways, tech startups are destined to evolve into new forms as times goes on. However, to get to that level of success, tech startups must design an optimum launch sequence. These specifics are what will define their trajectory going forward.
