How can you find startup opportunities? (2024)

Last updated on May 7, 2024

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1

Identify your skills and passions

2

Explore the market and trends

3

Validate your ideas and assumptions

4

Find your co-founders and team

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Seek funding and resources

6

Launch and grow your startup

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Here’s what else to consider

Finding startup opportunities can be challenging, but also rewarding. Startups are innovative ventures that aim to solve a problem, create value, or disrupt an industry. They often operate in uncertain and competitive markets, and require a combination of creativity, resilience, and execution. If you are interested in joining or creating a startup, here are some tips on how to find startup opportunities.

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  • Toshiyuki Tachibana, CPA, MBA and CMA Japan CFO

    How can you find startup opportunities? (3) How can you find startup opportunities? (4) How can you find startup opportunities? (5) 108

  • Hélène Guillaume Pabis Founder + CEO Wild.AI

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  • Constantine Shulyak Author of $100M+ social project | Featured on Forbes | CEO at BLCKMGC

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1 Identify your skills and passions

The first step is to identify your skills and passions. What are you good at, and what do you enjoy doing? What problems do you want to solve, and what impact do you want to make? Your skills and passions can help you narrow down your focus and find startup opportunities that align with your goals and values. You can also use your skills and passions to build your personal brand, network with like-minded people, and showcase your expertise.

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  • Toshiyuki Tachibana, CPA, MBA and CMA Japan CFO
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    When the agents or start-up companies approach me, they usually view my career in LinkedIn and thought a combination of my experience in technology leading companies which implies my capacity to work with technical people.Also as in start-up companies, with a limited resources there, they want to hire such person as those having wide variety areas of specialities and exact hands on experience and growing the team.And of course a passion is an important factor for them because they are so striving to their start-up companies and want to work with the same level of passion with them.

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  • Constantine Shulyak Author of $100M+ social project | Featured on Forbes | CEO at BLCKMGC
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    Just lead the revolution!By aligning your passions with market needs, you can uncover areas ripe for innovation. Leveraging your expertise not only enhances your credibility but also opens doors to collaborations and partnerships. Additionally, building a strong personal brand can attract opportunities and support your entrepreneurial journey.

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  • Will Nitze Founder @ IQBAR (+ Philosophizer🤔)
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    Go work for a big company and learn EVERYTHING about your company and the market you serve. Pain points will start falling from the sky everywhere around you.Then, hone in on pain points that 1) you could build a company around solving, and 2) you'll enjoy / be fired up about solving.This is how I've seen most folks generate startup ideas that have legs.

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    Ideally while building a startup the goal is to solve a meaningful and solvable problem for a group of or segment of people who are willing to pay for the solution. But the whole journey of problem solving to making it an economically viable solution can be daunting and lonely. Thus the majority of the times, people who are driven by the problem or hold strong passion towards a sector or a skill sticks to solving it. Now, the other approach can be for people wanting to startup - Identify what you're good at and are willing to show up everyday no matter what. Identify the domain where you would use this skill to create a significant impact and then overlap it to find areas of problem statement to solve. Then build an MVP to test & start.

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2 Explore the market and trends

The second step is to explore the market and trends. What are the current and emerging needs, demands, and gaps in the market? What are the trends and opportunities in your industry, niche, or domain? How can you leverage your skills and passions to address these needs, demands, and gaps? You can use various sources and methods to research the market and trends, such as online platforms, newsletters, podcasts, reports, events, surveys, interviews, and experiments.

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  • Sara Ghaffary Dana Co-Founder at STeam Startup/Expert and researcher in HR
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    شناخت محیطی که می خواهی در آن شروع بکار کنی بسیار مهم است. کشش بازار، شناخت مشتریان بالقوه و بالفعل ، شناخت رقبا و مزیت های رقابتی آنها می تواند آگاهی و شناخت از فضای کسب و کاری که میخواهی به آن وارد بشوی را به شما بدهد.

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  • Anmol Jamwal CEO | Angel Investor | Keynote Speaker | Featured as Asia's Top 10 Influential Young Entrepreneurs
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    To find startup opportunities with market and trends, several strategies can be employed. - Market Research: The first step is to conduct thorough market research to identify existing gaps or untapped market segments.- One effective way to uncover startup opportunities is by identifying latent consumer needs or frustrations. - Keeping up with the latest trends and developments in various industries is crucial for identifying startup opportunities. By analyzing industry data, news, and trends, entrepreneurs can stay ahead of the curve and spot emerging areas with growth potential.Remember, conducting thorough research and consistently monitoring market trends is crucial to finding startup opportunities.

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3 Validate your ideas and assumptions

The third step is to validate your ideas and assumptions. Once you have some potential startup opportunities, you need to test them and see if they are viable and feasible. You can use various tools and frameworks to validate your ideas and assumptions, such as lean canvas, business model canvas, value proposition canvas, customer discovery, prototyping, MVP, and feedback. The goal is to learn from your customers, iterate on your solution, and find product-market fit.

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  • Michael Deem CEO and Founder | Venture Capitalist | Life Sciences | AI

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    Realize that you may need to evaluate 10, 20, or 50 ideas to find one that might work. So, create a process to quickly discard the ideas that will not work. And set out a framework to evaluate the ideas that seem promising: market, timing, patent protection, and your level of interest.

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  • Jin Chi Tan Founder of ABCJunior | I also talk about early stage startups
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    People often think that validation can only happen after they have a product. That's not true, it actually can happen in different stages.First, the idea stage. You only have an idea at this stage, nothing else. How validation can happen here is by talking to people. Talk to people and they will provide feedback on your idea. Second, the Minimum viable product stage ( MVP ), now that you have a product to show. You can then get more data points and people to provide feedback. Third, fundraising stage. You can talk to potential investors ( who are usually veterans in the startup world ) to provide feedbacks that are even more detailed to propel your startup further. TL;DR: Validation can happen anytime. You just need to start talking

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4 Find your co-founders and team

The fourth step is to find your co-founders and team. Startups are not solo endeavors, they require collaboration and teamwork. You need to find people who share your vision, complement your skills, and challenge your thinking. You can use various channels and platforms to find your co-founders and team, such as online communities, social media, referrals, events, hackathons, accelerators, and incubators.

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  • Anmol Jamwal CEO | Angel Investor | Keynote Speaker | Featured as Asia's Top 10 Influential Young Entrepreneurs

    Building a successful team and co-founder myself, I know is a little time-consuming thing as well as a very crucial decision. Finding co-founders and assembling a skilled team is a critical aspect of pursuing startup opportunities. By defining your vision, leveraging your network, attending industry events, and utilizing online platforms, you can connect with potential co-founders and team members who share your entrepreneurial spirit and possess the skills required to help your startup succeed. Remember to evaluate compatibility, promote diversity, and be patient throughout the procedure. With the right team by your side, you can significantly increase the chances of turning your startup opportunity into a reality.

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  • R. Adam Smith Global veteran in family enterprise, mergers, alternative assets | LinkedIn Top Voice | 10x BOD member | Family Business Audiocast | expert speaker | Salomon Brothers | Columbia Business School | led $1B PE directs
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    Multiple founders are harder to source but can add value over time ..1. Diverse Skills : Different backgrounds cover varied expertise.2. Shared Load : Distributes responsibilities 3. Risk Spread : exposure divided.4. Emotional Support : Provides mutual morale boosts.5. Better Decisions : enriched decision-making.6. Investor Appeal : Diversity in leadership can attract funding.7. Wider Network : Expands opportunities.… and issues:1. Equity Issues : Deciding ownership splits can be tough.2. More Disagreements : voices can slow decisions.3. Vision Differences : Potential for divergent business goals.4. Operational Complexity : Coordination becomes essential.5. Exit Conflicts TBD ,)

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5 Seek funding and resources

The fifth step is to seek funding and resources. Startups need capital and support to grow and scale. You need to find sources of funding and resources that match your stage, goals, and needs. You can use various options and strategies to seek funding and resources, such as bootstrapping, crowdfunding, grants, competitions, angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate partners, and mentors.

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  • Ronja Schneider Driving Media Innovation with Founders, Talents and Companies
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    1.) Startup support can be often found locally 🙌Let alone in Munich, there are plenty of governmentally funded entrepreneurship centers to explore. Often with no strings attached!2.) Seeking support options from specific industries 🤔Industries like Health, Tech, Social Impact or Media often support startups through specific accelerator programs, which can be easily found on Linkedin or via Google Search.3.) Build a network with other founders 🤝The best support mechanisms or funding options are most likely to be recommended. Having a person, who participated in a certain program or benefitted from a funding option is beneficial to learn whether opportunities are fitting for you or worth the effort.

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  • Jin Chi Tan Founder of ABCJunior | I also talk about early stage startups
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    Seek only what you need to scale your startup. Lots of the time, I see founders scrambling around, blindly participating in fundraising events, pitching competition etc without knowing what they want. If your startup start to take flight, and you know that now you need funding to scale. Congratulations. The next step is to meet and convince investors to invest in you. Prepare your term sheet, know how much you're asking for, train up your negotiation skills, sharpen your competitive edge and give these potential investors the best pitch you ever gave. Schedule follow up with them and give them reasons on why they need and should invest in you. Else if all fails, ask if they are willing to be a mentor instead. Keep the connection going

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6 Launch and grow your startup

The sixth step is to launch and grow your startup. Startups are dynamic and evolving ventures that require constant improvement and adaptation. You need to execute your strategy, deliver your value proposition, acquire and retain your customers, measure your performance, and optimize your processes. You also need to face the challenges, risks, and uncertainties that come with startups, such as competition, regulation, pivoting, scaling, and failure.

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    IMO one of the more important aspects of growing your startup is to make sure you have the right team in place. Once you do, get out of the way and let them execute the plan. It is hard for some founders to do this since it was their idea and they may want to control every aspect of the business. Don't do this! Agree on a plan and let the team do their thing to achieve the results. Of course, as the founder you should get regular reports on progress but stay out of the way the rest of the time.Other advice - don't blindly copy other companies/competitors, avoid the "buzzy" marketing idea/tactic of the day. Stay focused on your goals, adjust the plan based on results or new data, and drive forward.

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  • Aakash Bhalla Founder @Onavid
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    Startups are like roller coasters. They have ups and downs, but the ride is worth it in the end.To launch and grow your startup, you need to be relentless. You need to keep moving forward, even when it's tough. You need to learn from your mistakes and adapt to change.Focus on your customers and deliver them value. Make sure you have a working product or service that people want to use. And don't be afraid to pivot if necessary.Building a startup is not easy. But it's one of the most rewarding things you can do. So hang on tight, enjoy the ride, and never give up on your dream.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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  • Hélène Guillaume Pabis Founder + CEO Wild.AI
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    Instead of looking for my passion, I took the other path: what was my biggest insecurity. It hurt to dig into it, but it eventually became my mission, my startup, and.. my passion! ;) I felt it was not great to be a woman in sports: less fast, less strong, less interesting so not portrayed in media.I turned that around, trying to understand if there's another story. And there is :)

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  • Gijsbertus J.J. van Wulfen Innovation keynote speaker, Number One Thought Leader Design Thinking 2024, LinkedIn Top Voice helping you and your organisation, to become amazing innovators with keynotes, workshops, and a proven innovation method.
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    In my experience as innovation facilitator of 100+ projects, a great way to find opportunities is to: “GO OUT AND IDENTIFY RELEVANT CUSTOMER ISSUES”!4 tips for you:1. Immerse as an anthropologist among your potential customers without being judgmental.2. Find out what really relevant for them in their lives at this moment.3. Identify their jobs-to-be-done and issues related to the context of your scope.4. Do customer discovery before your ideation process YOURSELVES with your whole tam, as the experience is as important as the results. When as immerse in your target group yourself you will understand their situation, and their jobs to be done more profoundly than any other method.You will never forget your customer vists 🤗✅🔥.

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    Startup resources, including finances, time, and human capital, are typically limited. Business management helps optimize these resources to maximize productivity and profitability. Through effective budgeting, cost control measures, and smart decision-making, you can make the most of your available resourcesStartups are important because they are the engine of economic growth. They are the source of new jobs, new products, and new services. They drive innovation and create wealth. Startups are riskier than established businesses, but they also have the potential to generate higher returns

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