As an idea-phase entrepreneur, you’ll need support with validating and launching your concept. Read topics and questions to consider below, get in touch with your closest SBDC regional center, check out resources for idea phase entrepreneurs and find upcoming educational events on our calendar.

As an idea-phase entrepreneur, you may be wondering if your idea has market potential or adequately solves a real problem. An NYSBDC advisor can assist you in answering these questions by guiding you through initial research and identification of customer pain points to confirm that there is a demand for your business solution.
Questions to Consider:
You won’t be successful as an entrepreneur without a solid understanding of your business’s target market. NYSBDC advisors can offer instruction on defining customer personas, analyzing competitors, estimating market size, and determining if there’s enough of an audience for your product or service.
Questions to Consider:
You’ll want to refine your core value proposition as an idea-phase entrepreneur,. NYSBDC advisors can help you work through exactly what makes your solution unique, relevant, and valuable to customers.
Questions to Consider:
A clear, sustainable business model for your venture will maximize your chance of success at launch. NYSBDC advisors can aid you with identifying revenue streams, potential partnerships, and your initial cost structure.
Questions to Consider:
In the idea phase, you might need assistance in shaping the first version of your product or service. NYSBDC advisors can help you think through prototyping, feature prioritization, and developing a minimum viable product (MVP).
Questions to Consider:
If you need resources to start your venture, you may be wondering about how you can gain access to funding sources. NYSBDC advisors are skilled in matching up idea-phase entrepreneurs with potential early-stage capital solutions to purse, like grants, angel investments, crowdfunding, or bootstrapping options.
Questions to Consider:
If you are in the idea phase, you may not yet have thought through all the legal and administrative requirements to start your business. NYSBDC advisors can help you plan for business registration, regulatory requirements, intellectual property protection, contracts, and more. Advisors happily work in tandem with any legal professionals you may have.
Questions to Consider:
Establishing a network of contacts who can provide feedback, industry insights, and connections can be invaluable to you at this early stage. Opportunities to network with other entrepreneurs can stoke your motivation and provide useful partnerships. NYSBDC advisors are skilled in helping idea-phase entrepreneurs make critical connections.
Questions to Consider:
As an idea-phase entrepreneur, you may not yet have set up feedback loops. These are ways to test your ideas with people, gather feedback, and make adjustments before an official launch. NYSBDC advisors can assist you in planning effective feedback loops for your idea.
Questions to Consider:
You may not have officially launched your venture yet, but having a grasp on brand positioning, messaging, and early marketing channels will be very beneficial as you approach your launch. NYSBDC advisors can assist you in learning where and how to reach your target audience.
Questions to Consider:
You might be interested in figuring out how to better allocate limited resources, like time, money, and effort, to your business idea. NYSBDC advisors can help you set priorities and create timelines for your first steps.
Questions to Consider:
|   M   Mon  |   T   Tue  |   W   Wed  |   T   Thu  |   F   Fri  |   S   Sat  |   S   Sun  | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|   0 events,   |   5 events,    What You Don’t Know Can Cost You: Merchant Services 101 for Small Businesses  Small Business Human Resources  UPMC Essential for Success Training – Multi-State Supplier Readiness Webinar  Welcome to the SBDC Info Session  Welcome to the SBDC Info Session |   3 events,    Marketing Strategies with NeuroMarketing  AI Starter Kit – Practical Tools for Small Businesses (2-Part Session)  Resilience Strategies for Entrepreneurs & Sustainable Success webinar |   8 events,    Grow & Fund – Weekly Business Booster (2-Part Series)  Christine Curzio, owner, Simply Payments  Buying an Existing Business  Monthly Business Solutions Roundtable  Monthly Business Solutions Roundtable  Monthly Business Solutions Roundtable  Christine Curzio, owner, Simply Payments  Grow & Fund – Weekly Business Booster (2 Sessions) |   0 events,   |   0 events,   |   0 events,   | 
|   1 event,    Welcome to the SBDC Info Session |   4 events,    Fast Track to Small Business Workshop (In-Person & Online)  NELP Business Entity Formation  Government Contracting 101  Building Better Credit for Bigger Opportunities | Part 1 |   5 events,    Grants for R & D : SBIR and STTR  Business Valuation  A Simple Recipe for Social Media Success  Customer Segments & Why They Matter More Than You Think |   6 events,    NELP Remote Small Business Legal Clinic  Storytelling, a Complete Marketing Tool  Sales Tax Best Practices  Business Start-up Basics & Planning- Small Business Seminars  Is Entreprenuership for You? | |||
|   1 event,    Fast Track to Small Business Workshop (In-Person & Online) |   5 events,    IN PERSON: Website Workday at the New York Public Library  Success Through Certification  How to Start a Business Workshop  Welcome to the SBDC Info Session |   8 events,    Google Suite for Business Workshop  AI Starter Kit – Practical Tools for Small Businesses (2-Part Session)  Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in Marketing  Turn Clicks into Clients: Optimizing Your Website for Success  Business Formation  Small Business Digital Game Plan: Your Online Growth Playbook  Brand Identity from the Inside Out  Access To Capital | Capital to Grow, Confidence to Thrive |   4 events,    Preparation for Holidays Sales  Introduction to HR & Payroll  Financing Your Small Business – Small Business Seminar  Grow & Fund – Weekly Business Booster (2-Part Sessions) |   0 events,   |   0 events,   |   0 events,   | 
|   3 events,    IN-PERSON: Website Workday at the Brooklyn Public Library  Welcome to the SBDC Info Session  “Hustle for Freedom” Business Bootcamp |   7 events,    Building a Small Business Website  Fund Your Business With Community  Marketing to the Government  Content Creation Without the Overwhelm: Smart Strategies for Busy Entrepreneurs  Convenience Sells  From Local to Global: Unlocking International Opportunities |   5 events,    CPA Accounting Clinic  Google Analytics: Learn what visitors are doing on your website and what is working and what is not  Brand Positioning: Why Should Anyone Choose You?  EmpowerHER Expo Invite 2025 |   3 events,    AI Made Simple: Unlocking Growth for Small Businesses  Artificial Intelligence Basics – Small Business Seminar |   2 events,   | ||
|   1 event,    “Hustle for Freedom” Business Bootcamp |   5 events,    Crafting the Perfect 3-Minute Pitch  How to Respond to an RFP  Non-Disclosure Agreements: When Should You Require an NDA, When Should You Sign an NDA  Welcome to the SBDC Info Session |   4 events,    Business Legal Entity with NELP  AI Starter Kit – Practical Tools for Small Businesses (2-Part Session)  Secure Your Business: Cyber Basics Every Entrepreneur Should Know |   4 events,    Bookkeeping Basics for Small Business Owners  Cybersecurity Essentials for Small Business – Small Business Seminar  Grow & Fund – Weekly Business Booster (2-Part Series) | 
Our statewide network of 20 regional development centers and over 70 satellite locations is ready to help you take the next step. Find your center & start your SBDC journey.

