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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 event, Contracting & Certifications Series: Contract Reporter, NYSBDC’s BidMatch Service, & Certifications | 7 events, Marketing Strategies with Neuro Marketing Concepts “Creating Good Jobs & Employee Ownership” Business First Wednesday AI Starter Kit – Practical Tools for Small Businesses (2-Part Session) Tax Planning: Ask the CPA Fake workshop For survey creation Tax Planning: Ask the CPA | 3 events, Monthly Business Solutions Roundtable Grow & Fund – Weekly Business Booster (2-Part Series) | ||||
2 events, Contracting & Certifications Series: Contract Reporter, NYSBDC’s BidMatch Service, & Certifications Welcome to the SBDC Info Session | 2 events, Fast Track to Small Business Workshop (In-Person & Online) | 8 events, NELP Remote Small Business Legal Clinic NELP Remote Small Business Legal Clinic Tax Planning: Ask the CPA Convenience Sells GROW YOUR BRAND WITH GOOGLE | ||||
5 events, Contracting & Certifications Series: Contract Reporter, NYSBDC’s BidMatch Service, & Certifications Fast Track to Small Business Workshop (In-Person & Online) FAST TRACK to Business Workshop FAST TRACK to Business Workshop- In person | 4 events, Welcome to the SBDC Info Session | 4 events, AI Starter Kit – Practical Tools for Small Businesses (2-Part Session) ESTRATEGIAS PARA VENDER MÁS ESTRATEGIAS PARA VENDER MÁS | 2 events, Government Contracting series I “Doing Business with the Government” | |||
2 events, Contracting & Certifications Series: Contract Reporter, NYSBDC’s BidMatch Service, & Certifications Welcome to the SBDC Info Session | 3 events, NY Made Big Changes to the Unemployment System: Here’s What Employers Need to Know THE STARTUP GAME PLAN: Steps to Launching Your Business | 10 events, InnovateHER -Women Mentoring Women in Business & Tech InnovateHER -Women Mentoring Women in Business & Tech InnovateHER -Women Mentoring Women in Business & Tech Grow & Fund – Weekly Business Booster (2-Part Series) Understanding the Credit Game IMPULSE SU MARCA CON GOOGLE Start Your Own Business IMPULSE SU MARCA CON GOOGLE | ||||
0 events, | 3 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 | 3 events, Marketing Strategies with NeuroMarketing AI Starter Kit – Practical Tools for Small Businesses (2-Part Session) Resilience Strategies for Entrepreneurs & Sustainable Success webinar | 6 events, Grow & Fund – Weekly Business Booster (2-Part Series) Christine Curzio, owner, Simply Payments Monthly Business Solutions Roundtable Monthly Business Solutions Roundtable Monthly Business Solutions Roundtable Buying an Existing Business | 0 events, | 0 events, | 0 events, |
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.