STARTUP MILESTONES

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What milestones have you passed and which ones do you expect to pass and by when? 

Investors analyse the milestones The startup's performance and speed of progress are noted down and those that the entrepreneur says he/she will overcome in the future are counted at that date. Milestones are significant events or achievements in the life of a new enterprise. They often refer to events that mark an important transition in the company's development, such as the launch of a product, the securing of funding, the addition of a new team member or the signing of a major contract. These relevant facts are often used to measure the company's progress and can be important in attracting investors and media attention.

Below are some examples of milestones that may be relevant for a start-up:

1. Product launch: This is one of the most important milestones for a start-up. The product launch can be a turning point in the life of the company, as it can help to attract the first customers and get valuable feedback on the product.
2. Obtaining funding: Raising funding is another important milestone for a start-up. The ability to raise funds can be a sign of confidence in the team and in the potential of the company.
3. Recruitment of key personnel: Hiring key personnel, such as a CTO or CEO, can be an important milestone in the life of a start-up. These employees may have skills or experience that are crucial to the success of the company.
4. Obtaining important clients: securing important customers, such as large companies or celebrities, can be a significant milestone in the life of a start-up. This can help the company establish its reputation and attract more customers.
5. Acquisitions or mergers: Acquisitions or mergers can be important milestones for a start-up. These events can help the company increase its size and scope, as well as improve its market position.
6. Launch of new functions: Launching new features or products can be a significant milestone in the life of a start-up. This can help the company stay relevant and competitive in the market.
7. Acknowledgements or awards: Getting recognition or awards from the industry or the community can be an important milestone in the life of a start-up. This can help the company establish its reputation and attract the attention of potential investors and customers.

In general, the milestones are important because they can help the company measure its progress and attract the attention of investors and potential customers. Also can be a source of motivation for the start-up team and can help keep morale high in difficult times.

Challenges that a startup must overcome and that mark important facts that an investor wants to know if you have already overcome or when you are going to overcome them:

Startups face many challenges as they seek to grow and establish themselves in the market.

SOME OF THE MOST COMMON CHALLENGES FACED BY START-UPS INCLUDE:

1. Financing: Getting funding is one of the biggest challenges for startups, especially at the beginning. They can turn to friends and family, business angels, crowdfunding, venture capital, among others, but finding investors willing to invest in a company that has not yet proven its business model can be difficult.
2. Product and service development: Startups often need to create innovative products and services that solve problems effectively and efficiently to attract and retain customers. Ensuring that their products and services are competitive in the marketplace can be a major challenge.
3. Customer acquisition and retention: Startups need to acquire customers to succeed, and this can be costly and difficult. Building a loyal customer base and retaining those customers is crucial to the survival of the company.
4. Competence: Start-ups often compete with companies already established in the market. Large companies have more resources and purchasing power, making it difficult for start-ups to compete with them.
5. Talent attraction and retention: Start-ups often need to attract and retain highly qualified employees. They may face difficulties competing with established companies that offer higher salaries and benefits.
6. Scalability: Start-ups must be able to scale their business model as they grow, which can be difficult if not planned from the outset.
7. Regulatory changes: start-ups can be affected by changes in regulation or in the economic environment, which can be difficult to foresee and plan for.
8. Continuous innovation: Startups need to constantly innovate to keep up with market trends and the needs of their customers. This can be a challenge, especially if you do not have a highly skilled and experienced team.
9. Time and resource management: Start-ups often have limited resources and a small team. Efficient management of these resources is critical to the success of the company.
10. Uncertainty: Start-ups can face constant uncertainty about the future of the company, which can be stressful for the team and investors.

In short, the challenges faced by startups are many and varied, and the ability to overcome them is critical to the success of the company.

For an investor, the relevant facts about a startup may vary depending on the stage the company is at and the sector in which it operates, but some of the key points they are likely to look for are:

1. Equipment (+): a strong and complementary founding team, with experience and expertise in the sector in which they operate.
2. Product or service: an innovative and differentiated product or service, with the potential to solve a market need and with a clear and scalable business model.
3. Market validation: a clear validation of the market and the product or service, showing interest and demand from potential customers.
4. Market size (+): a sufficiently large and growing market to justify the investment and allow an adequate return.
5. Growth metrics: solid growth metrics, such as users, customers, revenues, etc., that demonstrate a steady and sustainable growth of the company.
6. Competitive advantage (+): a clear and sustainable competitive advantage that allows the start-up to differentiate itself from its competitors and gain market share.
7. Intellectual property: adequate protection of the company's intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks, trade secrets, etc.
8. Business plan: a clear and realistic business plan, with a well-defined growth strategy and a clear use of the funds sought.
9. Risks: a clear and realistic assessment of the risks and challenges facing the company, and how these risks will be addressed.
10. Milestones: the key milestones the company has reached so far, such as launching the product, achieving certain growth metrics, signing agreements with strategic partners, securing pre-funding, etc.

Having these relevant facts well identified and documented can be of great help to entrepreneurs seeking funding, as it allows them to present their start-up in a clear and coherent way to potential investors.

Questions an investor asks to check which milestones have been reached 

When an investor meets with an entrepreneur, it is common for them to ask a series of questions to assess the startup's potential and the milestones it has passed or has yet to pass.

SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AN INVESTOR MIGHT ASK ARE:

1. What is the problem your product or service solves?
2. What sets you apart from the competition?
3. What is your business model and how will you monetise?
4. What is your short- and long-term growth strategy?
5. What are your financing needs and how are you going to meet them?
6. What is the experience and background of your founding team?
7. How will you protect your intellectual property?
8. What is the total market size and your target market share?
9. Do you have potential customers already identified and what is their reaction to the product?
10. Do you have any major milestones or achievements already reached?

These questions may vary depending on the investor and the stage of the startup, but in general, they seek to learn more about the project, the founding team, the potential market and the business strategy, as well as to assess the startup's potential for success.