My take on a question in Quora:
What are the detailed steps to start a startup?
There are two things you need to do.
First thing:
Create a timeline, showing your start-point (idea prototype?), end-point (MVP launch?), and the developmental path of transition points in between, but you also need to define the following critical elements:
- specific tasks to be accomplished at each transition, till the end-point;
- metrics to measure your progress or milestone accomplishments;
- accountability, as some tasks may need to be shared, e.g. with strategic partners? subcontractors?, if any;
- resources that you need to get all the work done [I like to call them the 7 M's: Money; Methods; Men; Machines; Materials; Metrics; and Mojo!];
- timetable for completion of each predefined task;
You also need to identify potential problems or challenges that may crop up along the way, and work out a slew of possible strategies to deal with them. In the corporate/business world, this is known as contingency planning.
You may also need to institute some form of system, like a Pert Chart, to track, control and monitor your forward trajectory.
Second thing:
You need to draw up a simple business plan, featuring your:
1) Strategy;
2) Tactics on product pricing, promotion, target market;
3) Milestones;
4) Forecast Sales, spending and cash flow;
Godspeed to you!
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