5 Common Startup Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make

Are you running a startup? Good luck with that. But as an excited entrepreneur, you can mess up things in case you are not subtly careful. It is easier to commit mistakes even after getting funding or full-fledged team. Startups need to be extremely careful to be successful.

I have seen many startups experience unwanted excitement and fail soon after. A few years ago, I met a startup team looking for funding and everything. They were trying to promote a product that was not useful or great - but they were still super excited. One more problem was that they were trying to do too many things in one go.

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Such a startup was destined to fail, and I knew it. They did fail.

The same happen a few months after when I was invited by a new startup which was looking for some consultation. I noticed that they had more than usual number people on board. Well, you know the result. Such things happen.

There is no shortcut to success, but you can avoid the failure by not overdoing things and avoiding the top startup mistakes that entrepreneurs make.

My team has talked a lot about entrepreneurship, startups, and everything. Be sure to check these helpful articles:


See, knowing is winning. If you know about the types of mistakes that can be made, you can avoid losing the battle.

Not all but there are many startup mistakes that can be avoided to make your venture a success. For that I suggest that you take advice from people who have gone through the early phases of successful startups. We call them startup consultants.

However, my team has gathered some tips and tricks that can help you avoid common mistakes that startups make before and after getting funding.

If you are the owner/founder/co-founder of a startup that you really think has the potential, I recommend you to follow this article and avoid some common mistakes that are committed by young startup owners.

Many startups make mistakes while securing funding as they need to be careful while using the funds. Companies tend to get overwhelmed and make major funding mistakes. I have an article on how to use money after getting the funding.

Let us have a look at 5 common startup mistakes that first-time entrepreneurs make:

#1. Associating funding with success

Many startups think funding as a mark of success instead of a necessary part of running a company. This makes them focus more on chasing the funding instead of growing their business and solving issues inside the corporation. Due to this mindset, many founders ignore the fact that the company does not need a million-dollar investment upfront, but they might require capital to sustain and grow.

For this, you need to think beforehand whether you require the investor’s money to grow your business, or are you using this capital for things that are not needed. Whether you are looking for investors, just because other startups are doing so, or just for bragging around.

#2. Not having a good relationship with co-founders

When we start a business, we are in good relationships with our co-founders, but with the passing time, their flaws and shortcomings start getting exposed and we have a tendency of not having a good relationship with our co-partners. However, it is better to accommodate their faults and turn your partner’s weakness into a strength. The main thing is to assess your partner about how they react under stress.

I suggest making things simple and transparent with your partners.

It is important to have the right partners, co-founders, and investors. It is important to have alignment in values with your partner. If the partners do not get along well then, the startup is likely to fail, so it is important to adjust according to situations.

#3. Not paying attention to potential customers

Customers are particularly important for any company and they are the ones that teach us many things. Listening to your customers and paying attention is important as you can then start to predict what they will say. Customer feedback is important, and it will help your company become better and better with time.

Whenever you are unsure about the product, all you have to do is talk to the users and get the required insights. Trying to figure out things on your own can be tough so try to pay attention to your customers' requirements and feedback and act accordingly.

Many times, startups develop a product that is not well thought of and does not give the desired returns. If you start customer engagement early, then you can step onto the right path with much ease.

This early engagement can help you confirm the demand for your product, and you can get feedback on competition or differentiation. As a startup, you have less time and resources, so it is important to pay attention to customers and target the right market at the right time.

#4. Jumping on to decisions

Startup founders have several decisions to make and it is important to make those decisions wisely. While hiring people it is important to interview at least 10 people for that position, so that you find the best one for the job. Before starting the venture, it is crucial to know the potential co-founders well before joining them in the team. Many companies fall apart due to partner issues, so do not jump to decisions, think before you leap.

Whenever you take any decision about the company, make sure to think twice and take advice from all team members. In this way, you will know the consequences of any decision.

#5. Losing focus

Many times, startups have difficulty in focusing, as a lot is going on and countless decisions to make. Founders must have a clear focus on their product, strategy, and audience and must be willing to adapt according to the situations. Hold on tight to your initial idea and then bring about changes with extreme focus.

When your focus is right, you can do an excellent job but with your mind wavering here and there, you will get only mediocre results due to incomplete work. Startups produce innovative ideas every day and you need to be thoughtful and selective about the good ones with which you want to move forward.

New companies have limited time and resources and with the right focus, you can get success with the both existing and latest ideas.

Final words

Running and building a startup is a daunting task for beginners. Not all startups are successful, so if you stay away from these 5 startup mistakes, there are chances of becoming successful.

Securing funding can be stressful and intimidating but once you receive the capital, you can propel your company to a higher level by being careful.

Do not be afraid of making mistakes, but if you can avoid, please avoid.

Focus on building a solid company with better cooperation and accommodation.