When it comes to startups it is really important to remember they are made by people whose purpose is to provide value to other individuals. Taking this into account it is worth mentioning group efforts and the leverage of knowledge not only by employees on payroll but efforts coming from other stakeholders, especially the ones who have a map for success. In this particular case a startup mentor takes the lead in this area. There are many differences between a consultant and one of these professionals; one of them is that individuals or businesses in the consulting area can be measured by return on investment, but experienced mentors are simply priceless.
Usually the startup team is qualified for the specialized tasks they have to perform; it is a common practice that most individuals will do other things besides their core competences; this is practically a need in a rocky environment, especially at the beginning. Because of the aforementioned assertion it is also true that there will be not enough time from human resources to perform other tasks that are way beyond their quick ability to learn. At this point having access to a mentor is literally a lifesaver. Nothing beats experience in the fields of leadership and change coupled with up to date technical expertise; these professionals shine in this area.
A newborn company or startup doesn’t have to wait for a crisis to understand the need for expertise in the areas keys to their success. From designing and implementing their business model up to applying a process methodology in a simple and agile matter, a specialist can and will bring great results on time and within budget. Today’s technologies allow profitable communications in many senses. Just a few decades ago, future business moguls had to travel extensively and spend an inordinate amount of money just to be able to talk to an expert in the field. Nowadays, because of information technology and communications, it couldn’t be easier for a qualified professional to give you a hand anytime, anywhere.
Sometimes a startup has a great idea in order to start a business but they face a common problem: sources of financing. This is where a startup mentor shines since they will be able to structure a successful finance round among circles of trust and immediate financial sources. It is a testable fact that no one knows it all, this is especially true when an entrepreneur or board faces the challenge of lack of knowledge or information in key areas. With a wise guide the company will not incur into costly early mistakes in these areas. The important element to take into consideration is that many decision makers don’t know they are making a mistake. The benefits are twofold: correcting problems early on and being aware of challenges that may stop growth later on.
Being agile is considered as a key to success for startups. This concept and way of acting permeates elements such as technological decisions, marketing, and managerial activities. This translates to decisions on a day-to-day basis; with careful guidance in these everyday affairs stakeholders will make sure their business hits and surpasses the goals set at the very beginning. A startup mentor is just the perfect person to pave the way to reach this goal because they themselves will adapt to the new business’ environment along with their particular opinions and idiosyncrasies. The smaller the company, the faster it needs to move.
Being able to adapt services and products to changing environments doesn’t mean the planning process has to go away, it just has to be done differently. In order to achieve this successfully it is of the utmost importance to use the right tools and consult the right group of people inside a network. This connected group of professionals loaded with concise answers to business problems is key to lead the startup to their desired destination, without letting changes transform the original purpose since this may lead to building an uninspired and mediocre business.
No startup is equal, for this reason, a startup mentor will define the right tools and services for the job at hand. Most experts will tell you that simplicity is key; this business axiom usually comes from wisdom derived from experience. Execution of a great plan will definitely lead to success; because of this, a startup mentor can and should be with the team in every management stage. At the end of the day these professionals become part of the team.
Depending on my availability, I would be interested in mentoring a startup if you find my credentials useful.
