Peter Vadasz’s Post

Friday reflection on what they don’t tell you about founding and startups: if you want to succeed, your primary motivation above all else needs to be financial. You have to be willing to admit that your idea or your product or your solution is wrong. You may need to even admit you misread the problem-space you were working in entirely. …And somehow still find the motivation to pivot into a different idea/product/solution/problem and keep going. Maybe this is obvious, but if the possibility of a big payout isn’t exciting to you or align with your values, you probably shouldn’t be founding.

we all mess up. but when most startups fail, the reason founders give is "we were too early", "the market wasn't there", etc. when i failed, it was because i wasn't good enough. - i wasn't resilient enough and gave up too fast - i had no idea what i was doing in most areas - we said we'd do X (build a network of users) then later we'd make money rather than planning for revenue from day one - we hadn't backed up our database because i had no idea this was a thing, and we had to start from scratch after activating thousands of users - it was more about the idea than the problem. more about the idea than building a successful business. great for a fun side project, bad for a business plan i could also say "the market didn't need our product enough to earn money from it," but i'd be lying to myself. we all know the "fail forward" mantras but unless we admit the actual failures, you're just failing, not moving forward.

After founding and investing in many startups, and seeing countless pitches, I’ve noticed that most founders are chasing the wrong thing. It’s not about chasing markets—it’s about finding fast-growing platforms. Most founders either focus on growing markets or build a solution for a market that isn’t even growing (the classic 'I'll get 10% of the TAM' pitch). If you build a solution on a fast-growing platform, that’s key. So, instead of thinking, "Here’s a fast-growing market, what can I build?' shift your mindset to 'What fast-growing platform can I tap into and solve its inefficiencies?"

What are early warning signs that a startup will fail? StartupFailSigns #EarlySymptomsOfFailure Building a startup is thrilling, but let's face it; things can go south pretty quickly. It's essential to recognize the early symptoms that a startup might be heading for failure. 🚩 Whether it's cash flow issues, market fit problems, or team conflicts, being aware of these red flags can help steer the ship in the right direction. Here are some crucial warning signs to watch out for. CashFlowProblems #FinancialStruggles One of the ... Read more: https://lnkd.in/gVt5qbUY

Was thinking about startups and startup risks earlier after a post by Dan Keeley earlier in the week The truth is though, without risk there's no reward. Of course risk doesn't have to be striking out by yourself or trying to build the next mega org. But sometimes, some of us just like building things, from scratch. 👇 Here is that email in question I mentioned in the video: https://lnkd.in/efHJwc5g

#Building a new #venture is challenging, and most startups die in their very first stages. Having built 2 #businesses previously (one shut down and one failed), I developed a #framework that would at least help you increase the odds of success. No guarantees though, you have to be a super executor to be able to build successfully. That said, here is a pre-building checklist that will save you sweat, tears, and money to build something that would work.

🚀 𝐈𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐔𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬?🚀 In the early stages of a startup, every decision counts—and your team structure is no exception. With limited resources and everyone juggling multiple roles, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But getting your team right from the start can make all the difference. In our latest blog, we explore how lean teams help startups: ⚡ Maximise efficiency with limited resources ⚡ Make faster decisions by streamlining roles ⚡ Stay agile and ready to pivot without layers of bureaucracy ⚡ Attract investors with a smart, scalable team structure If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels, 𝐠𝐢𝐠𝐂𝐌𝐎'𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐌𝐎 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 can help you build a lean, high-performing team that delivers real results. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://lnkd.in/eMk_rRHk #StartupGrowth #LeanTeams #BusinessStrategy #gigCMO #FractionalCMOService

Don't let setbacks stop you! Over 90% of startups fail, but many founders use that experience as fuel for future success. Remember, failures are learning opportunities that can propel you towards building the next big thing. #StartupHustle #Resilience #BPlanadvisors #Buildingbusinesses

A major killer of all failed startups Improper budget allocation! Founders first think about making the perfect product, and this is fair. Without a good and stable product you have nothing. But it isn't enough. The worst thing that can happen is to build without a proper product-market fit. So you get a great product none needs. That happened way too many times. Your market-oriented activities should start as early as possible. The aim is to have awareness and maybe even a list of orders at the launch day. At that point the investors will line up as well so your financial runway stretches to the horizon. The best time to start marketing in your startup is the founding day. The second best time is now. Let's have a meeting on that. #startupsales #salesandmarketing #revops #runway

Arcanys Ventures aims to redefine the startup ecosystem by breaking away from the usual investor mold. 🚀 Here's how we make a difference: • Proactive Engagement: Our approach is hands-on, comprehensive, and goes way beyond writing checks. We dive into your strategic and day-to-day operations, providing the support and guidance that’s crucial for real growth. • Rich Expertise, Tailored Guidance: Our A-team brings a wealth of experience in technology, business development, and market strategies. But we don’t just advise; we mentor and adapt our insights to your startup’s needs, helping you tackle the tech world’s complex challenges. • Enduring Partnerships: Our support extends beyond the initial funding. We walk alongside you through your growth phases, always ready to lend a hand. We fill in the gaps in your tech teams, enabling you for rapid scaling and ensuring that you have the foundation to accelerate your startup growth. You gain not just an investor but a long-term partner with Arcanys Ventures, ensuring that your startup not only grows but thrives in the ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry. #ArcanysVentures #TechForEquity #StartupGrowth #InnovationPartners #StrategicDevelopment