What is a startup company? How to start a similar business. What is a startup? The future is the main guideline

What is a startup: definition of the concept + 6 differences from business + 6 stages of development + 5 options for where to get money + tips for its implementation.

Recently, unusual and new words have entered our vocabulary. But, unfortunately, they are not always used appropriately, and often many people do not give them the meaning that was originally intended.
Therefore, today we will look at what a startup is?
Agree that many equate it with a new business idea or the beginning of its implementation, and thereby try to apply a newfangled term.

But it has a completely different message. Which? Read our article.

What is a startup really?

This term was widespread back in the last century. Then, in the 30s, innovative technologies began to develop, and in 1939, two students William Hewlett and David Packard founded a business to develop computers. By the way, the guys were pioneers in their field and called their project “startup”. Now their company is famous throughout the world under the name HP (Hewlett-Packard).

1976 was marked by the founding of Apple, in 1998 the world saw Google, and in 2004 Mark Zuckenberg gave us the social network Facebook.

What are we talking about? All of these projects were the first of their kind. These are the most striking examples of startups that came to fruition thanks to the new and unique ideas of their founders.

Now let's move on to defining what a startup is. Let's go back to the roots and consider the popular definitions of this term:

Thus, it is possible to combine the proposed definitions and derive the most detailed one.

A startup is a young company that is at the development stage, operates in conditions of uncertainty and offers the world a new innovative product that solves a specific problem.

Often such companies are not only young, they are also not legally registered and do not receive income from their activities.

Important points to pay attention to in order to identify a startup:

no chaos - the creators understand what they are doing and what they want to give to the world;
a new idea - the basis should be innovation, and it is not necessary to open a new industry, it is enough to offer an interesting solution that no one has implemented before;
uncertainty- the creator does not know whether his idea will take off and whether it will gain scale, but he still continues to work.

Thus, a startup is neither an idea, nor the start of a small business, nor even the business itself.

Properties that distinguish a startup from a business

In order to understand even more deeply what a startup is, you need to determine its main differences from a business:

Innovative idea.

This is the main difference from just starting a business. Opening a store is not a startup, opening a store with a new innovative approach to service is yes.

That is, an idea is a new product on the market that has not been implemented before.

Team work.

In the process of creating a startup, a team of like-minded people works. Most often, such people have creative thinking and do not tolerate rigid boundaries in their work.

But at the same time, each participant has his own responsibilities and determination for results.

Creation speed.

A startup is different from a quick start business. The average period is six months.

Young age of the founders.

According to statistics, most startuppers are under 30 years of age.

Need for financial support.

If starting a business can be postponed and you can save a certain amount on your own, then a startup requires urgent injections.

Founders only generate an idea and work on its implementation, and they need funding to launch. Therefore, for startupers.

High risks of burning out.

Only 15-20% of startups cross the threshold of two years and become successful projects. Most of them do not find their consumer, after which the idea is abandoned.

How does a startup launch?

To clearly answer the question of what a startup is, you need to understand what stages it goes through before becoming a full-fledged business.

There are 6 stages in total:

	Stage name	Description
1.	Pre-seed	At this stage, the idea is just emerging. At the same time, a team is recruited and a plan for further action is developed. Finding an investor is quite difficult, so participants make their own investments.
		Startup launch or Startup stage
2.	Seed	The team is working to create a working model, analyze the market and draw up a business plan. Each participant clearly understands their responsibilities. At this stage, you need to start looking for investors, so in the best case, expenses cover the first income.
3.	Prototype	The idea turns into a working model, which is endowed with certain functions.
		Growth Stage
4.	Early testing (alpha version)	The product enters the market, but only a narrow circle of people know it. At this stage, the model is tested in real conditions: its advantages and disadvantages are identified, inaccuracies and defects are corrected. This is the best time to attract additional investors, because there is an opportunity to demonstrate the product in all its glory.
		Expansion stage
5.	Model extension (closed beta)	The product is already making a profit, marketing and PR are working at full capacity to expand the customer base. At this stage, additional funding may not be needed, as the emphasis should be on a full-fledged partnership. A startup can fully function without its founders. If they are not interested in further participation, then the first priority is to find an investor who would be willing to acquire a controlling stake.
		Exit or Exit stage
6.	Project maturity (open beta)	The startup has turned into a full-fledged business that can safely be called a market leader. Profits reach peak values, and once just an idea becomes a familiar product for consumers. At this stage, shares can be issued, which will later be sold to investors or will serve as a source of permanent income for their founders.

Stages of startup development in terms of project profitability:

Where to find funding for a startup?

As mentioned above, . Let's discuss suitable and not the most suitable sources for this:

Personal savings + help from relatives, friends and acquaintances.

This financing option is good only at the initial stages, since large investments are not yet needed.

In addition, at the beginning of the journey, it is undesirable to dedicate everyone around to the essence of your idea.

Credit funds.

Not the best option. Such financing is extremely dangerous for startups, because they have a high risk of going broke, and they will have to pay off the loan amount and interest in any case.

State.

This is a rather controversial source of funding, since it will take a lot of time to receive a grant, and it is better not to delay the launch of the project.

But it’s still worth a try, especially if there is a person on the team who is ready to do it. To do this, you need to study government programs and the conditions for participation in them.

Business angels.

But in this case, you need to be aware that the business will be almost entirely in the hands of the investor.

If the founder is interested in staying in business if the result is successful, then all the details of financing should be discussed already at the initial stages of project development.

Venture funds.

This type of financing is suitable already at the stages of product expansion and promotion. Its essence is that the fund is formed from the contributions of several investors.

Despite the fact that the venture fund is determined to work with promising and high-risk projects, it can impose extremely inconvenient conditions for startups.

How to start your own business? Startup concept.

Types of startups. Features of this direction.

There really is no set of rules that will help you create a successful, world-famous startup. The only thing everyone will agree on is that you need to be prepared to work non-stop. You need to be passionate about your work and not stop after the first difficulties.

But there are still some tips that can help in creating a startup. We divided them into several blocks:

How to generate an idea?

You need to be a professional in your field.
Often, startupers who gave the world a brilliant solution in a certain area knew it very well and worked in it.
Therefore, do not be lazy to constantly acquire new knowledge in the field in which you work. The better you understand a particular matter, the easier it will be for you to come up with a new idea.
Monitor market trends.
Without knowledge of modern technologies and what is happening in the market, it is impossible to offer this world something new and interesting.
Find the problem and its solution.
First of all, you need to decide what specifically interests you and, perhaps, bothers you.
Think about why you are not satisfied with the already proposed solutions, analyze them, and start looking for options on your own.
Remember that the solution lies on the surface.

It’s not for nothing that they say: “everything ingenious is simple.” Often the solution is the simplest and easiest way that everyone ignores.
Record all your thoughts and ideas.
Often thoughts come spontaneously and disappear just as quickly. And in order not to forget anything, it is better to write down your ideas.

What to do at the start-up stage?

Make an action plan.
Despite the fact that a startup is the prerogative of creative and creative people, no one has canceled the discipline.
You won’t be able to go with the flow, so you need to make a clear plan consisting of successive stages that need to be completed one after another.
Create a team around you.
A team will be needed to finalize the idea together.
Agree, not every person can be a generator, developer, marketer, economist and lawyer. Everyone must do their job.
Start sales as early as possible.

Early buyers are the best solution in finding the strengths and weaknesses of a product.
Of course, at the launch stage it should not be raw, but still a lot of functions will not play into the hands of the founder. The consumer himself will decide what he needs and what he doesn’t.
Use the services of external consultants.
If you feel that you have a gap in knowledge, do not skimp and use the services of specialists. This will save time and in the future will insure against possible failures due to ignorance and misunderstanding of some points.
Constantly look for investors.
But you don’t have to agree to the first offer of cooperation. You must understand the financing terms.
For your own peace of mind, you can resort to the services of a lawyer who will help you sign the contract.
Don't give up at the first difficulties.
On the contrary, they should toughen you up. In addition, mistakes and difficulties help you look at the project from a different perspective.

What mistakes should you not make?

Refuse the command.

One person cannot have all the knowledge, so it is impossible to do without assistants. It will take a lot of time to launch, and this does not work in the startup’s favor.
Not able to negotiate with investors.
Startup.
If you are not strong at negotiations and do not understand investing, you need to study this issue so that you can speak the same language as the investor.

Don't bother with a suitable presentation.

Just a verbal description of a startup, no matter how brilliant its idea, is not enough.

The presentation should appeal to more than one sense, without being oversaturated or boring.

Immediately count on millions.

If you are pursuing only a selfish goal, then a startup is not for you.

Of course, any effort and knowledge should have its value, but the most successful projects were those that were aimed at solving a problem, and not at making a quick profit.

Understanding what a startup is is important in today's world. Many ideas that were implemented according to the principles of its implementation have greatly simplified our lives and changed it.

In the future, many projects will appear that will solve pressing problems. Perhaps you can offer your solution to one of them. Therefore, we advise you to take everything into your own hands, find a team and do your job.

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Hello! The term “startup” is heard more and more often during economic news. It can be heard from experienced managers and aspiring entrepreneurs. We will try to reveal what this is in this article.

What is a startup

A clear definition was first given by the successful American businessman Stephen Blank. Entitled "startup"(or " ) he proposed a temporary structure that is designed to find and implement a new business model.

In simple words, this is a completely new financial project created to generate income.

The very essence lies in the translation of the term from English: start or beginning of the process. It was first heard by Stanford students in 1939. The young people named their business related to the development of computers this way. It later became known as the successful Hewlett-Packard company. In the late 70s, the term was used in articles by Forbes and BusinessWeek to describe non-standard financial projects with high profits.

The name is not suitable for all newly opened business projects. A distinctive feature is that they are original and fundamentally fresh, which have not been used before in a wide format. They are not copied from successful options, but represent a special perspective on solving problems.

The most famous startups in recent years include the Facebook project, which laid the foundation for all social networks, and the online taxi service Uber. No less striking startups in their time were the developments of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. But this is not always a large-scale and high-profile business: more often than not, it is a small commercial development that brought good profits and became widespread.

Who are startupers

Often such profitable and ingenious projects are born in a team of young people who are called “start-ups.” These are true pioneers with a passion for their ideas. Having nothing to implement, they surprise potential investors with their developments.

Recently, such innovative ones are increasingly being presented at reputable business forums and youth congresses. Many investors are themselves interested in innovative proposals.

Distinctive features

Interesting business projects that have certain differences may fall under the name startup:

A team of like-minded people who are focused on results and are not afraid of risks;
It is based on an innovative idea or development that has not been used before by other entrepreneurs;
Lack of own capital (in most cases) and attraction of financial investments from outside;
The goal is always to make a profit;
Low percentage of implemented and successful business ideas (only 15-20% of the total).

Another important sign is the fairly high speed of project development: the main percentage of startups show the first positive results within six months.

Main stages

Any new project goes through several main stages of its development, each of which has its own characteristics:

Stage 1: Pre-seed or sowing, which is characterized by understanding the idea itself. The team studies the prospects in the market and draws up an initial plan, providing recommendations and developing it in the future. Often, startupers do not yet have a clear understanding of how their project will be technically implemented.

Stage 2: Launching a startup or Startup stage is the first and most problematic weeks of work. The team tries to make every effort, trying to prove the advantage of a new product or service over similar ones. To attract investment in a startup, various methods of self-promotion are used. In the absence of good business acumen and perseverance, it may not arouse the required interest. Many people fade away at this stage.

Stage 3: The growth stage or Growth Stage provides for further promotion and consolidation in the market of goods and services. At this stage, the product is already known among consumers, and work is carried out in accordance with.

Stage 4: Expansion stage: the startup is well known, makes a profit and gradually expands beyond its niche in the market. The team becomes a real production or financial company that is engaged in the purchase of new similar projects.

Stage 5: Exit or Exit stage: in case of successful business and development of the startup, at this stage many investors leave the project, and the business itself is sold to strategic partners. If the company is not successful and the project does not interest customers, the exit stage may end with the closure of the startup.

The seeding stage is the most voluminous and difficult for the team. It is here that it is necessary to develop a prototype of a new product and solve the problem of how to attract investment in a startup.

It is also divided into specific stages of development and implementation:

Creating a simplified product with minimal functions;
An alpha version is produced that can demonstrate the advantages and positive qualities of the startup to a potential investor;
A closed beta version is launching. It is as close as possible to the idea conceived by the startup team. The latter can invite a small number of clients interested in testing. They do preliminary analysis free of charge, show the creators weak points;
A public beta version is being offered and the team is trying to attract consumers and clients. The first contracts may be concluded and active advertising campaigns may be carried out.

Some profitable startups develop so rapidly that they skip certain milestones.

Main types of startups

Among the new projects, there is a certain classification according to sales markets and features of the products produced:

"Successful copy" is a whole group of successful projects that repeat the success and achievements of foreign startupers, supplementing them with their own details. The most successful copycats are social media;
"Aggressive Alien"– startups of this type enter the market and try to displace competitors with a more attractive price and interesting product qualities;
"A dark horse"– a special project with an unclear prospect for further development. It is difficult to calculate the expected profit in them, so they are quite risky for investors and the creators themselves.

If we consider startups according to the degree of knowledge intensity, the classification is divided into two types:

Traditional projects: it is based on simple, accessible ideas that the team was able to rework and translate into an interesting form;
Startups driven by innovation: This is an attempt to translate interesting and useful scientific discoveries into business projects. The only difficulty is the need for serious financial investments at the initial stage.

Main directions for development

Every year a lot of new innovative ideas appear that are of interest to potential investors. As before, the bulk falls on the sphere related to the Internet, mobile communications and IT technologies. More and more projects are appearing in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, and energy, which are considered promising areas.

Owners of investment companies are happy to consider new business projects in the field of virtual reality and financial services. At this stage, technologies and ideas that make life much easier for users and are associated with high technology remain more in demand.

Startup financing

All over the world, startups are a serious part of the economy; famous entrepreneurs and developed companies are interested in them. Many successful projects helped the latter expand their assets and make large profits. Therefore, they are actively looking for talented startups who can offer a non-standard product.

The bulk of new startups are financed by business angels and special venture funds. Such sponsors begin to cooperate with developers at different stages and receive part of the rights in the future company. If the project develops successfully, both parties will benefit.

Business angels – private investors who invest at the stage of presenting an innovative idea. They do not interfere in the management of a startup and do not insist on an urgent return on investment. They are more interested in high profits in the future.

More prudent investors are venture funds - companies that manage the finances of certain investors. In order not to lose their deposits, such funds approach the choice of a startup carefully, joining the cooperation after studying all the prospects and features.

There are two main types of financing:

Delayed until stable time: the sponsor and the developer enter into an agreement indicating the stage for the start of financing and the share that the investor will have after receiving the profit. This is a very promising option for any investor with minimal risk;
Fan financing of the project: sponsors start investing funds at the earliest stages. These are riskier projects, but they can pay off in huge returns.

In some cases, the source of the initial investment may be the relatives and friends of aspiring startup founders who are ready to support enthusiasts. It is this type of investor that ranks second in Russia, financing up to 50% of all projects.

Startup support programs in Russia

Investment projects in Russia are developing confidently. Special programs and platforms are appearing to help find sponsors for development.

At the state level, assistance can be provided by:

Russian Venture Company (Seed Investment Fund);
Agency for Strategic Initiatives.

Among the non-state companies involved in supporting startups are:

Runa Capital;
ru-Net Ventures;
Almaz Capital;
Foresight ventures.

Each fund or platform specializes in certain projects. The percentage of share they will take for their financial assistance also varies.

How to attract investments correctly

Many aspiring entrepreneurs do not know how to work with potential investors. To understand their actions and not lose trust already at the acquaintance stage, you can use the advice of more experienced entrepreneurs:

Find “your” business angel, who will support the project at the start. Such an experienced partner will point out possible shortcomings and help increase the value of the innovation in the eyes of large investors.
Work on business plan options. The market situation is constantly changing, so it is recommended to submit several interesting business plans for applications. They should be aimed at investors with different income levels.
Setting up for long-term work. Startups must navigate long and complex development, ups and downs. It will be better for the project if a professional or an individual team member is engaged in searching for investments and developing a financial model.
Consider parallel options. It is necessary to negotiate simultaneously with several potential sponsors, analyze and compare proposals. Having backup options will help you stay on track if one of the investors refuses to work at the very last moment.
It is necessary to bargain in negotiations. Experienced entrepreneurs advise not to blindly accept any commercial offer. Through dispute and compromise, you can get more investments, “win” the rights to manage a startup or other privileges.
Monitor the security of the transaction. You should not sign an agreement with a business angel or venture fund without carefully reviewing it by a lawyer. Just one mistake or clerical error can lead to loss of control over a profitable project in the future.

Attracting investors is a long process. Many successful, profitable startups searched for their business angel for at least six months, holding more than 20 meetings with investors.

Startup ideas

Producing new ideas and concepts is a skill that needs to be constantly developed. Many entrepreneurs never part with a small notebook. Interesting observations, thoughts or notes are entered into it. Later, at your leisure, each entry can be carefully considered and discussed with colleagues. Most innovative ideas are in the air, demanding implementation.

Advice from experienced entrepreneurs will help you become more receptive to new offers:

Successful entrepreneurs say that the most interesting and profitable ideas for a startup with minimal investment are born from compassion for other people's problems, from the subconscious and thanks to healthy curiosity.

But even great ideas have their drawbacks that prevent them from turning into a profitable startup. According to statistics, more than 90% of all projects are closed within 3 years due to an incorrectly chosen market niche or business model. Many of them have become just clones of existing programs or developments.

Well-known entrepreneurs and owners of venture capital funds in their interviews name some bad topics for work:

Keeping blogs for further turning them into business projects;
Various types of micropayments;
Projects related to scanning QR codes;
Recommendation Internet services;
Programs for finding vacation spots.

Attempts to repeat successful developments that have already taken root in the market will fail. Many users quickly get used to a certain product (applications, social networks or search engines), so such online startups may simply remain unnoticed.

There are areas of activity where you can implement new startups with minimal investment and turn them into a profitable business project.

Owners of venture funds believe that the following areas may become the most promising and in demand:

Robotics, which can make everyday life, treatment or production activities easier for people. Everyone knows robot vacuum cleaners, which quickly became popular among many users.
Energy. The search for cheap and safe resources does not stop in the most famous laboratories in the world. All of humanity needs them, so increased interest in such startups is guaranteed. Unconventional fuels with high efficiency and the ability to obtain energy from scrap materials and household waste also have great prospects.
Healthcare. For many people, high-quality and inexpensive medical services are still inaccessible, so startups will always find a profitable place in the technology market for this area. Sponsors are interested in any new developments related to the production of equipment, new treatment methods, or reducing the cost of producing expensive drugs. Of particular interest is the prevention of serious diseases and their early detection, which can save thousands of lives.
Virtual and augmented reality. Innovative ideas in this area can be actively used not only for entertainment, but also when creating simulators for doctors, drivers or rescuers.
Financial services. Many people are closely monitoring services and programs that can make the task of paying monthly payments easier. All developments related to cash flows are always in the area of increased attention of investors. Startups in this area will be of interest to large financial institutions and ordinary users.
Telecommunications. An inexpensive and high-quality method of communication will always be a priority. Products like Skype or Viber have easily won their niche in the market, but consumers carefully monitor new products and use them in their work and everyday life. Studying the requirements and wishes of ordinary users can lead to unexpectedly profitable projects.
Food and green technology. The world's population is inexorably increasing, so scientists are concerned about the problem of a shortage of quality food in the foreseeable future. Finding fresh solutions for agriculture and processing industries can bring great benefits and benefits.
Enterprise software. Various programs for large and small businesses are always of interest to investors and bring in good money. You can focus on processing databases, digitizing internal information, or creating data protection techniques.
Online cinemas. More and more users prefer interesting videos and stories on the Internet to a regular trip to the cinema. The popularity of video content is growing rapidly, requiring new technologies and software.
Education. Users are interested in programs and innovations that improve the learning process. This makes education more accessible and simpler, opening up new opportunities for remote cities. Developments in this area will always be able to find investors or business angels.

Cybersecurity and environmental issues continue to be important areas. Don't just focus on high technology: new startups can be profitable and necessary in any field. Even among a large number of competitors, you can find your niche.

Typical startup mistakes

Developing an idea is just the beginning of a complex process. To prevent the project from stalling at the initial stage, inexperienced startupers should listen to the opinions of professionals.

Here is a list of common mistakes:

Reluctance to work in the same team. Many young professionals do not want to share the profit and fame from their projects, so they try to develop the idea on their own. But often one person does not have enough energy and time to cover all stages of development, negotiate and do advertising. The most original and daring ideas are born in a friendly team.
Focus only on profit. Any startup requires capital investment at the initial stage. But the truly famous and highly profitable projects have become those that were originally conceived as a way to solve a common problem and provide assistance to a group of users.
Incorrect distribution of material resources. At the initial stage, you shouldn’t rent an expensive office and spend money on maintaining your image. It is better to invest these funds in the development of innovation.
Poor preparation of presentation for investors. You should not propose huge massive developments oversaturated with terminology. It is better to make the presentation exciting, unconventional and demonstrate your creativity. A good video should take from 3 to 5 minutes so that the viewer does not lose interest and understands the original intent.
Inability to work with potential investors. Novice entrepreneurs pay little attention to developing their knowledge in the field of investments. Therefore, it is difficult for them to find a platform for presentations.
Startup overload. If you want to attract more attention to your product, you should not load your new project with a large number of functions. It is better to add such changes after testing with users, focusing on their preferences.
Lack of proper long-term planning. When working on a startup, many teams don't think about its duration. Although well-known entrepreneurs claim that a high-quality business plan for 3-5 years is very important for the entire team and for potential investors.
Desire to cover a large market segment. Experts advise focusing on a narrow and specific niche in which it is easier to express yourself and show the importance of a startup.
Unwillingness to work for a long time. Many business projects related to innovation require a lot of time and effort to implement on the market. To achieve success, you should prepare for difficulties and even falls.
Reluctance to seek help from specialists. Young developers often overestimate their knowledge and skills in the field of running a business project or advertising. Sometimes it’s worth inviting a good expert or turning to a service that will help adjust the development of a startup and take on some of the problems.

There are many other mistakes, but in almost any situation the fault lies with startupers who did not navigate the market. Therefore, you should devote time to self-development, studying new material, etc.

Nowadays startups are in trend. And there is nothing surprising about this - an explosive idea for business development not only in Russia, but throughout the world, can bring a lot of income in the shortest possible time. Moreover, this idea must be innovative, which will make it possible to earn a lot of money even in highly competitive niches where entry into novice businessmen with small capital is prohibited.

One of the main conditions for the successful development of a startup is considered to be a non-standard approach to banal things, the main goal of which is to solve problems or provide unique services to the end consumer. Funding for explosive small business projects in the new 2017, which in the future is capable of bringing sky-high dividends, can be carried out through one’s own savings, the capital of a private investor or the assets of venture funds.

What is venture business?

It’s not for nothing that we decided to start our review of startups with the venture business, since these two concepts closely intersect with each other. On the one hand, if a small enterprise has a high-tech project based on the latest technological developments, then it is possible to draw up a business plan and a clear development strategy.

On the other hand, if you have capital, you can organize a venture fund yourself with an authorized capital of 10-15 million dollars and start financing promising startup projects in 2017. Each investor who decides to organize his own venture company to finance innovation in Russia (and on the world market) assumes responsibility for the high risks of investing assets.

However, it should be understood that the profit from financing startups can be calculated with an indecently large “number of zeros” after a known figure. A striking example of well-thought-out explosive projects are the social network Facebook (could Comrade Zuckerberg have thought that he would be among the richest people on the planet?), the game of millions World of Tanks (as well as other Wargaming projects) and others.

The owner of the fund is interested in receiving excess profits, therefore, if the project is truly worthwhile, funding will not be long in coming. In addition, venture capital companies are co-owners of the company’s shares, which are sold to the co-owner after the startup becomes a profit. Thus, both parties are interested in the development of an innovative idea and the financial growth of the project.

Advice: To develop a small business that will be based on innovation, you will need a certain amount to start. You can use your own capital, take out a loan from a bank (as in most cases with opening a small business in Russia), resort to crowdfunding, or turn to business incubators and business accelerators. Innovations in the IT industry are the most in demand, so this industry will never go unnoticed by investors.

Successful startup project ideas 2017

It’s easy to guess that the fewer competitors there are in a niche, the higher the profit from the activities of a small enterprise in Russia will be. Let’s look at successful projects – and they will be relevant not only in 2017.

Business on wheels

Mobile housing for holidaymakers . This type of activity is in demand in resort areas, where people wanting to relax are a dime a dozen. The idea is to produce mobile residential houses and rent them out to tourist centers, holiday homes, boarding houses and private entrepreneurs. Judge for yourself how popular this project will be in Russia, since there are a lot of resort areas in the vastness of the country. In addition, this direction is relevant all year round, since in summer houses can be rented on sea beaches, and in winter, for example, at ski resorts. During the development of the project, part of the profit can be used to rent land or a recreation center in a resort area, which will significantly increase income. The service of delivering mobile housing to customers to their immediate vacation spot is also very popular.

Mobile cafe with exotic cuisine . have become a common thing for ordinary people - wherever you go, everywhere you can see mobile trade with a variety of goods on the shelves. The idea of such a startup is to popularize exotic fast food dishes. Today they can be tasted mainly in expensive restaurants, which not everyone can afford to visit. A mobile restaurant on wheels can serve a considerable number of visitors. To launch a project in Russia, you will need permission from local authorities to rent land (not needed), a van equipped with kitchen equipment, and several sets of tables and chairs for visitors. You can come up with a menu for your restaurant by getting dish ideas from the Internet or from various cooking shows. If necessary, they can always be replaced with more popular treats. It is worth noting that when stationary restaurants are opened within a year, only one out of 10 survives. As for mobile cafes, out of the same number of open “establishments,” only 2-3 cannot withstand competition. It's worth thinking about, especially if you don't know the restaurant business.

Dairy kitchen on wheels . The idea of this startup is outrageously simple - daily sale of natural milk to the population. This area will almost always be in demand, since milk is one of the most important food products, so the demand for it will always be high. In addition, do not forget that it is dismantled early in the morning, so by lunchtime the tank is usually already empty. You can start such a small business in any city by installing a barrel of milk in a residential area. To implement the project, you need to purchase a stainless steel barrel that can be attached to a car. Then you need to find a farm to purchase fresh milk (every morning), and also take it to the nearest sanitary and epidemiological station to obtain certificates confirming the suitability of the products for human consumption. Since milk is not a staple food item in supermarkets, there are unlikely to be any problems with "nearby" competitors. It is necessary to set the selling price slightly lower than the store price, and the flow of buyers will not be long in coming.

Providing services to the population

Providing related medical services to the population . To implement such a project, you do not need to have a specialized education, since the idea is to collect a database of medical institutions in Russian cities and provide information to a person upon request for a certain amount. For example, an entrepreneur can keep statistics for a region (locality) on a number of diseases. This should also include the cost of medications and their generics (cheap analogues) in city pharmacies. Services must necessarily include detailed information about dental clinics (private and public) with a detailed list of services and prices. It is also necessary to collect a complete database of practicing doctors in the city of various specializations. It is also worth adding patient reviews about the work of a particular specialist, the specifics of his work, etc.

Dating from the Internet to real life . This quest has already become popular in Russia. And by 2017 the project will become quite profitable. You can start such a business with virtually no investment. It is known that in today's bustle, many people have practically no time for their personal lives and, accordingly, for dating (it is not surprising why many people meet through the global network). The idea of the project is this: you organize a meeting for 20-30 people (men and women should be equally divided) via the Internet, for example, in a city cafe. It is necessary to agree in advance with the management of the establishment about the upcoming event and organize tables with light snacks and drinks. Naturally, the meeting of people will not be free. You need to figure out the cost of tickets for the upcoming speed date yourself.

Production

Production of fuel briquettes . The idea of the startup is to produce briquettes for heating from wood waste. You can safely invest in this line of business, since fuel is unlikely to be “cheaper than mushrooms” in the near future. Moreover, cheap sawdust can be bought at any sawmill or wood processing plant. You will also need to buy drying chambers. In addition to wood shavings, you can use charcoal, peat and other natural raw materials.

Manufacturing of double-glazed windows for metal-plastic window structures . Today, this startup is in demand in Russia, and for its implementation it is necessary to purchase professional equipment. The cost of the production line will cost 35 thousand euros, approximately the same amount is needed to purchase equipment for sealing finished products. You will also need to rent production space. On average, in 1 working month your small business will bring in about 6 thousand euros (taking into account that you will sell 300 m² of ready-made packages at a wholesale price to companies involved in the assembly of metal-plastic window structures).

Advice: Speaking about the economy, we should mention the sale of “used” building materials. We are talking about a startup related to the dismantling of dilapidated and abandoned buildings, thanks to which bricks and building stones can be obtained. Starting a business is quite simple; to do this, you need to obtain permission from the village council (it’s not like dismantling schools in the city) and organize teams of workers.

Production of living notebooks . This area has no competition, so if you manage to occupy this niche in time, you can raise a lot of money. On the cover of the notebook there is an image with various heroes or cartoon characters. If a person points the lens of his mobile gadget at a notebook, the same hero will come out of it and begin to communicate. This is simply incredible, so the production of such notebooks will pay for itself very quickly. In addition, this type of activity does not require large capital investments.

Business the American way

It's no secret that many ideas of successful startups were adopted from Americans. Let's look at what they came up with on the opposite continent and what business ideas are in demand overseas.

Startup for the “lawn mower” . Lown-Love - this is exactly what they came up with in the USA to call a monetary project related to landscaping gardens and personal plots. Its idea is simple: this information portal acts as an intermediary between a potential customer and professional gardeners. The customer provides data on his plot and information about how he wants his garden to look like, and the service selects a specialist for him who will do this work. Then payment for services is made through the website, the service removes its commission, and the customer receives an ideal landscape. Lone Love acts as a guarantor of the quality of the services provided, so a person can be confident in the services ordered.

Startup Detective . Resourceful Americans were among the first to resort to the services of private detectives who conducted surveillance of any object. Without violating human rights, it will be very difficult to trace him from a legal point of view. The Tile project is based on the development of key fobs with an active tracking function and the transfer of relevant data to a mobile device, for which the customer needs to purchase a mobile application. This service is very popular, and such a business has already managed to bring its owners about 20 million dollars.

Earning money from a healthy lifestyle . The unusual project has already brought its owners more than one million and continues to gain popularity. The customer wants to eat some dish, for which he needs to order special ingredients via the Internet from the delivery service. They are delivered at a strictly specified time. The highlight of this service is the fact that the ingredients are supplied to the customer with detailed instructions for preparing a dish from the selected menu.

Travel companions. The uncontrollable craving of Americans for hitchhiking gave rise 10 years ago to the idea of creating the BlaBlaCar service, which is now popular in Russia. Each person can easily find a travel companion or, conversely, find a driver who will take you anywhere inexpensively (along the way). It is known that some venture capital companies have invested over $100 million in the future of this service.

Internet business

Every freelancer can organize an explosive online business that will generate substantial income by providing remote services to consumers. There can be a great variety of ideas for profitable startups, ranging from providing advice (legal, business, accounting) to international trade.

One of the profitable areas is the resale of cheap and high-quality goods made in China on the consumer market of Russia and a number of other countries. Also, in the near future, the services of remote specialists will be in demand, for example, SEO copywriters and translators (without investing their own funds).

If you are a specialist in any type of activity, you can organize paid online training courses for everyone via the Internet. Examples of such startups include courses on learning how to do business online, writing articles using search queries of any frequency and word forms, playing the guitar, programming in modern languages, martial arts, etc.

An excellent option for investing money and running a business via the Internet can be franchising. This is a ready-made business where they cooperate on mutually beneficial terms. The owner of the trademark (business) receives from the entrepreneur at a certain frequency and helps him in every possible way in promoting the brand.

Save the article in 2 clicks:

Anyone can use the Internet to attract customers to their business, even if it operates offline. The main thing here is to carefully think through the idea of a startup and approach its implementation from a non-standard angle, which will allow you to be one step ahead of your competitors.

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A startup company (from the English startup, start-up) is a new company with a rapidly growing business, the goal of which is to meet the needs of the market by developing a viable business model based on an innovative product, service or platform.

Articles and news about the best startups, in which you will learn what successful ideas are being implemented by other entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world, as well as lists of companies in which the largest business accelerators invest.

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Ideas for startups: the “freshest” ideas from all over the world - 3 keys to success + TOP 5 ideas from all over the world + 3 startup ideas from Russian developers.

Why startup ideas are they becoming increasingly popular in the business sphere and bringing owners a lot of capital?

First of all, because they offer completely new, innovative solutions to people’s pressing problems.

Therefore, it is quite logical that in search of inspiration for creating your own startup, you should not rush “deep into history.”

Follow trends, fashion trends, what is actually in demand now.

This article, which brings together the main business trends and forecasts regarding future discoveries in the entrepreneurial “art” market, can help you with this.

What is a startup?

Before talking about startup ideas, it’s worth defining what we mean in general.

Most people have only a general understanding of startups. That’s why some believe that this is the name given to new resources on the Internet, while others believe that this is a business created by young people without experience.

There is some truth in this. However, the concept itself is broader.

Startup is a business idea that is based solely on the use of innovative technologies or the introduction of completely new products.

That is, the composition of the team and the format of the company do not matter (startups often begin to develop without being officially registered).

The main thing is that the team helps solve some problem of humanity by offering something unique.

Also distinctive features of the startup are:

limited money to start;
starting work from scratch;
Most often, startup partners were previously connected by some kind of relationship (worked together, studied together).

And although the world learns about such companies in their first steps, when the market position is not yet strong, only those companies that have already manufactured a product can be called startups.

The development or “raw” project is only the basis for creation, but not the startup itself.

What is the key to success of a startup idea?

If you analyze the ideas behind startups that have been particularly successful, you can identify several common features.

Conventionally, they can be called “secrets of success.”

Factors on which the success of a startup idea depends:

What exactly do you think about the idea that became a startup?

Do you think it can bring in a lot of money?

Or are you really “on fire” and confident that this business will be useful to people and become innovative?

Only in the second case does the startup really have a chance of success.

If you don't have a genuine interest, you can quickly burn out.

Moreover, startups rarely bring immediate profit.

A lot depends on the team.

It is obvious that a team of like-minded people working on the same wavelength can do more than one person.

Don't try to put everything on your shoulders.

You should not calculate how many people will have to divide the profit, but take care of the perfect quality of every detail.

Youth is a plus.

Let this statement sound like discredit.

But the fact remains: investors are more focused on investing in the young and ambitious.

Let people with experience do their thing - run large organizations and share their knowledge with others.

For those who no longer consider themselves a “young man”, but are eager, let us clarify: success in business has no age restrictions.

Do you have any doubts? Look at this picture:

TOP 5: global startup ideas

As a rule, startups are concentrated in the field of IT technologies. We decided to create a selection of ideas that were created and brought to life by ordinary people.

This step is designed to inspire you to implement your own ideas, even if you do not have any special education or many years of work experience.

1. An eco-friendly idea: a special shampoo

"Nephentes" looks like an enema or something.

In fact, this startup idea can have a significant impact on the environment.

Few people think about it, but ordinary plastic bottles from "" are a product harmful to the environment. The decomposition period of one bottle can be hundreds of years!

Do you remember how much you use them throughout your life?

According to the idea of this startup, manufacturers produce products in huge containers, pouring the required portions into customers’ “Nephentes” bottles.

It is curious that the design does not even involve the use of a lid! The neck is simply bent and inserted into the compartment.

Another plus: you can finally use 100% of the product, including what usually remains at the bottom.

2. Indian startup idea

If you think that all that India can do is dance and make films, then you will be surprised - quite a few startup ideas have been created in this country.

Interestingly, there is even a kind of analogue of the American Silicon Valley.

In addition, India is really interested in the issue of the huge amount of garbage on the streets. Innovative ideas appear regularly.

For example, an edible spoon is an excellent alternative to plastic utensils. After eating, you can eat it as a dessert or, of course, just throw it away.

Obviously, such “material” as flour decomposes as quickly as possible and is absolutely harmless to nature.

The creators also assure that vegetarians can safely eat the product. And in the future there are even plans to develop a gluten-free version.

3. Idea for junk food lovers

Who among us is not familiar with such a problem: you carefully take chips or something else greasy, and your fingers get so dirty that you have to go wash them.

And you need to be extremely careful not to catch or stain anything!

A startup has appeared in Italy, the idea of which is to create finger pads. They are very thin, but the latex fits tightly around your fingers.

Thanks to this, consumers can safely enjoy the goodies and then simply throw away the “attachments.”

It is assumed that these devices will not be sold on their own, but as a set with chips, nuts or similar food for which they were invented.

4. Startup: “folding” napkins

But the idea of this startup is designed for higher cuisine – that is, for restaurants. It appeared as a reaction to the fact that ordinary napkin holders are already becoming an obsolete item.

But napkins pressed into a small round “puck” are a different matter. To use such a thing, visitors must immerse the “tablet” in an antiseptic solution.

And immediately the fabric unfolds, acquires a pleasant smell, and even becomes a “killing weapon” for harmful microbes on your hands.

Don't immediately assume the increased costs for owners: these towels are not disposable. So the startup idea will not harm your wallet or the environment.

5. Startup idea with social value

Often startups are still called upon to solve global problems, and not just improve the already comfortable lives of consumers.

For example, a special supermarket was created in Denmark – “WeFood”. Its concept is that they sell goods here that cannot be displayed on “decent” shelves.

Incorrect labeling, torn packaging, an approaching expiration date, or even being out of date - all of these are usually reasons for writing off, returning, or even disposing of goods.

Meanwhile, even in Denmark there are many people who have to save on everything.

The supermarket idea not only helped low-income people eat more nutritiously. It also revealed a 25% reduction in the amount of food wasted across the country!

This is such a useful and, oddly enough, profitable startup.

What about Russia: 3 domestic ideas for startups

Although the words “conditions of economic decline” have already become classic words for the reality of Russian entrepreneurship, in the field of startups everything is not so bad.

The “buy and sell” guideline is gradually giving way to an innovative approach.

Original solutions still do not have such strong government support as in other countries.

However, their number is increasing, and investors are ready to invest their funds. This is especially clearly seen in the variety of startup ideas in 2016.

1) A startup you've definitely heard of

Have you seen the original photo processing on Instagram that turns an ordinary frame into an artistic canvas? Most likely, you already know what we are talking about.

For the rest, let’s clarify – the “Prisma” application is a service that allows you to process user photos in an original way.

It will come as a surprise to many that Prizma was developed by Russian programmers. Moreover, its creator is a former employee of the well-known mail.ru.

The peculiarity of the program is that it does not simply impose some filters on top of the card.

Thanks to the use of neural network algorithms (which you may also have heard a lot about), Prizma analyzes the frame and then creates it from scratch. But already in the form of a painting.

The fact that almost everyone now knows about this application is already an indicator of success. It remains to be added that the Facebook administration banned the use of the program on its network only because it considered it competitive.

2) Idea for a startup on cards

It is believed that various savings and discount cards are gradually becoming a thing of the past. At a minimum, because no one wants to carry dozens of options with them without knowing which one they need.

The developers of the startup “Cardberry” came up with the idea of creating a device that can accommodate all kinds of cards.

We won't go into technical details. The bottom line is that any user cards are, as it were, entered into the memory of this electronic device.

Every time a person needs a certain card, he goes into a special application and selects it.

“Cardberry” adapts to your choice and becomes a full-fledged replacement for the required card.

For your attention, we offer a cool video

about the 10 most successful startups in the world:

3) Startup idea for a comfortable life

You may not be familiar with the SVET company yet, but you have every chance to hear about them.

As the name suggests, the team offers lighting equipment. What makes this startup idea innovative?

The fact is that the light bulbs from this company are designed to imitate ordinary natural lighting.

Moreover, the device settings can be adjusted (for example, according to the time of day or night).

This startup idea is not only original and adds more comfort to everyday life. But it also has a beneficial effect on human health.

There is perhaps only one downside to the idea: at the moment, one device is priced at $70. The amount is too significant for Russians. However, the startup is in demand abroad.

Collected above ideas for startups They only emphasize: anyone can create a business based on an innovative idea. The field of startups is not limited to the field of IT technologies.

The main thing is that you bring something new and useful to the world.

And if the idea is worthwhile and the execution is diligent, it can make you rich, no matter how trivial it may sound.

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