Top 5 business leaders in the world

Business leaders are the people who take the position of the business in the topmost rank. A number of business leaders are making innovative changes in their businesses. Here is more than one business owner from whom you can get motivated. 

  1. Tim Cook

Tim Cook is a person who is a renowned business leader. From the leadership skills to the skills that should be utilized in the business, they can get help from the business support and get proper assistance. His unique leadership skills have changed the overall view of the business. As a result, they have become the most famous business leaders in the world. 

  1. Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg is another famous Indian leader who has changed the overall viewpoint of business in today’s world. He has been the Facebook COO since 2008, and since then, he has shared their leadership skills with the entire universe. As a result, he has become one of the most famous business leaders. 

  1. Bob Iger

Iger is also a famous person in the world who has served Disney corporation as the executive chairman. During his leadership period, they made remarkable films for the Disney corporation. The whole world has seen his leadership power, which has changed the viewpoint of today’s business process. 

  1. Reed Hastings

He is another famous business leader who has shown his leadership skills to the world. He is denoted as the founder or the CEO of Netflix, and it has made him a famous public figure. His leadership skills have changed the whole business viewpoint. With the help of his viewpoints, the whole world has changed, and it has become the best business viewpoint for them. 

  1. Bill gates 

Bill Gates is one of the most famous leaders in the world, and Bill Gates has also shared his leadership skills with the whole world. As a result, his leadership skills have also changed the whole performance of today’s business world. He has shown his support to the world, not just in the business sector. So, he is not just a person who has shown his leadership skills; he has also shown his interest in rural improvements. Besides that, in several crisis periods, he has helped the world in several periods, and it helped them survive in crucial time periods and changed their overall viewpoint of them. 

Conclusion 

Here are the top business leaders showing their leadership skills to the world. People have shown their interest in the whole world, which also helps them get one of the most effective results for the whole business period. They should have taken help from the business leadership forms, and it has also shared their viewpoints with the whole world, changed the world’s overall viewpoint, and helped them get the best rewards in many cases. The whole world has also taken their viewpoints to other people, and it has also helped people to get the most effective viewpoints on business. It has also changed the whole viewpoint of the whole business world.

 

Best Practices in Automation of Ecommerce

e-Commerce is a vast domain that literally spans a large footprint all around the world. We try to simplify our e-Commerce design every time so that things would go on smoothly and the processes can be carried out faster. But times have changed, and with it, the strategies have changed as well.

This is the age of automation, and e-Commerce has also benefitted from this immensely. Automation is carried out in increasing numbers and frequently so that it fosters a better association with the clients. It would also ensure that as the boss, you don’t have to do the same things repeatedly and all over again.

Some things can be automated and left it to the system for saving up time.

 Best Practices in Automating Ecommerce

Let us take a comprehensive look at how some of these practices would help out your e-Commerce website in effectively managing things. Some of these steps are given below,

  1. Have an E-mail Workflow ready with you.

It is important to make a first impression every time you set up a meeting or communication with new clients. You must ensure that you as a customer would be bound to cater to them at every step of the way. This is why you must have the facility of automated welcome emails, which is actually an important step concerning email marketing.

Having a complete email workflow for every step would help you keep in touch with your clients without missing an update. Be it welcome emails or at any other step in the workflow, it always helps.

  1. Track up your High-Profile Clients

The one possible way to know whether your e-Commerce business is doing great or not would be the testimonials that you receive from the clients. It is essential that you always make the client feel special when they use your services since they provide you with the required capital.

You can place up some reward systems for the clients that are high up your list, the ones with whom you can take in a large sum guaranteed. Target these clients specifically, and accordingly invite them to the loyalty programs.

  1. Contact your Infrequent Customers as well

This might come to you as a weird point but this is important as well. It is a great practice to contact the ones with whom you are in touch with frequently, but it is equally important that you contact the ones that are not. Engaging such customers positively is something that people rarely focus on which is not a great practice.

Try maintaining a good relationship with every one of your clients, and automation would help you in this case immensely.

  1. Merchant Accounts & Merchant Processing

It is important for an e-Commerce business to employ the strategy of merchant processing and possessing merchant accounts. Merchant account basically means that the e-Commerce companies will have tie-ups with the credit card companies thereby allowing a process called merchant processing.

It ensures that the merchant in question accepts the payments done by a credit card. The inclusion of automation will also ensure that online transactions be carried out swiftly, all thanks to merchant processing.

  1. Focus on Customer Engagement

Whilst creating your automation workflows for your e-Commerce company, you also need to figure whether your customers would fit into this or not. Many companies fail to comprehend this fact and this can lead to serious disasters in a manner of speaking.

You can engage your customers for product reviews, suggestions related to some contents, providing some hot information on upcoming product launches, etc.

Conclusion

Automation is the next best thing in e-Commerce and it can help so many companies out there get through all the mundane stuff in a snap. But even that requires a lot of strategizing and a lot of planning to make sure that the workflow is top-notch and on par with your competition.

Common Traits of an Entrepreneur

Many people aspire to be independent company entrepreneurs. They see their company as very successful, enabling them to amass tremendous riches, exercise complete control over their time and work schedules, and enjoy the flexibility to come and go as they choose. If this were the case, then everyone would be a successful entrepreneur today! Unfortunately, for the majority of individuals, this is not the case. Being an entrepreneur may be very rewarding, but it is also backbreaking labor. Here is a list of some typical traits that an entrepreneurs person must have.

  1. Vision

To be successful, entrepreneurs must have a clear vision of what they want their business to be and briefly explain the purpose, objectives, and market position of their company. They should be clear on the who, what, where, when, and why of their company (and explain it simply to others).

2. Passion

A successful entrepreneur is enthusiastic about their company. It is an exhausting job, and putting in long hours will be difficult if you do not like what you are doing at the moment. People that are passionate about their job understand what it is that motivates them to keep working toward their goals.

3. Tenacity

Entrepreneurs with tenacity persevere in the face of a difficult situation. They are not the kind to give up lightly. Their ability to accept rejection and their willingness to learn from their errors demonstrate that they are mature individuals. They are willing and able to change and adapt their strategy to be successful the next time around.

4. Willingness to put up long hours

It is more challenging to be an entrepreneur than it is to be an employee. Entrepreneurs who want to be successful must be prepared to put in the time and effort necessary, sometimes for little or no compensation at the start of their business. Successful entrepreneurs are well aware of the danger and hard work required to achieve their objectives.

5. Confidence

The confidence in themselves and their businesses that distinguishes successful entrepreneurs is essential. They must have faith in their abilities and their ideas. Everyone who wants to start their own business will experience rejection at some point, and the most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who dare to keep trying and bounce back after adversity.

6. Flexibility

Things do not always go according to plan. A successful entrepreneur can adapt to changing circumstances. They are ready to learn from their errors and to adapt and adjust when the situation demands it. They are open to receiving suggestions from others and experimenting with new methods.

7. Ability to sell

An entrepreneur must be confident in their ability to sell. It is still necessary for the leader to be skilled at networking and to market themselves and their company to lenders, clients, suppliers, and other members of the company’s employees.

8. Prudent with one’s finances

Successful entrepreneurs are also excellent money managers. They make intelligent investments in overhead and ensure that they constantly keep track of their money and manage their cash flow effectively.

9. Having the courage to ask for and accept assistance

The most successful entrepreneurs understand their limits, recognize that they cannot do everything alone, and are ready to delegate tasks to others. They are not afraid to seek assistance. When professional counsel is required, they seek it out and pay for it.

10. Resilience

Bumps on the road are inevitable for every company, no matter how successful it becomes. The ability to bounce back from a setback is essential for every successful business. They see failures as a chance to learn and develop from their experiences. They are aware that failing is an unavoidable aspect of the game.

11. Innovative

The ability to innovate is one of the most essential qualities of successful entrepreneurship. The entrepreneur searches for and seizes on market opportunities to grow their business.

He is the one who brings new goods and services into the market intending to meet customers’ requirements.

12. Someone willing to take risks

A certain amount of risk accompanies any new company venture. However, it is an exceptionally essential element in entrepreneurship since the entrepreneur is the one who is responsible for the entire risk of the company. To be successful in business, the entrepreneur must possess an adventurous and risk-taking mentality.

Conclusion

Starting and running your own company may be a wonderfully gratifying experience, but not everyone is made out for the role of entrepreneur. Be honest with yourself about whether or not you have what it takes to be successful in business before making the jump.

The Top Richest Women In the World in 2021

Science says women are smarter and more active than men. They have also proven themselves in the field of business, and that too managed to be the wealthiest personalities all around the world. A woman has patience, perseverance, smartness, and a brain, all qualities required to be a successful entrepreneur or a leader leading an organisation to the highest point in terms of success and popularity. The year 2020 has brought up many changes in everyone’s life in various aspects. It has also resulted in the women identifying their talent and interest, which made them step into the business world, and studies have proven that it has increased to 36% more than the previous year. They came from all around the world from various countries and cultures and made themselves the best business person ever. So let’s have a look at their journey and success to become a rich personality as listed below.

 10 Richest Women in 2021

 1. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers

 Francoise is none other than the granddaughter of the Founder of the L’oreal Paris Cosmetic Brand. She got her business as an inheritance from her mother, Liliane Bettencourt. Her grandfather worked at his company since the year 1997. Francoise, a 67 years old woman, helped Loreal be more precise and diversified than before by adding new products using various technologies and has built up the business in a profitable way. The company has a net worth of about 33.6 billion dollars but has been noticed to fall down about 6%in 2020 as the need for makeup decreased in the quarantine days. Recently the manufacture of the skincare products of Loreal has made the company more profitable due to the increase in cosmetic demand.

2. Miriam Adelson

 Miriam holds a wealth of about 39 billion dollars only with the help of Casinos. She got this art from her husband, who has been a stake controller, and now she controls about 56% stake in casino operator Las Vegas Sands. As 2020 has affected us all, the same happened here. The company lost 985 million dollars as Sheldon Adelson died in January as the resorts and casinos remained closed due to lockdown. Although it opened in June 2020, it ended up losing 1.69 billion as its net loss. Miriam is 75 years old, currently living in the United States and has now decided to focus on the business in Macau in Asia and to sell the property in Vegas.

 3. Sussanne Klatten

 Sussane inherited a 19.1% stake from her mother, Johanna Quandt, who has passed away. Whereas her father, Herbert Quandt, made the BMW industry one of the most successful luxury vehicle markets. The car making company has been reported to get a profit of about 119 billion dollars in 2020 as the company has recovered from great losses from their past. The BMW company has increased its stock price by more than 93% since March 2020, being wealthier than ever before. Apart from this, Sussane has also got a pharmaceutical company from her grandfather, which is well known all around the world. She is a 58 years old woman residing in Germany having a net worth of 28 billion dollars.

 4. Julia Koch

 Julia is a 58 years old aspiring woman of the most famous United States. She lost her husband in 2019, David Koch. Now she is the owner of America’s largest private company as per the net revenue calculated recently. The company called Koch Industries has a net worth of 46.4 billion dollars. And Julia now serves as the board of directors in the company having a stake of 42% stake. Besides her, David’s older brother also holds the 42% stake.

 5. Alice Walton

 Alice is the daughter of Sam Walton and has lost a bit from being the world’s richest woman. But anyway, she owns a net worth of about 62 billion dollars and is expected to soon raise up her revenue in the near future. She is 71 years old and is currently staying in the United States who owns a company named Walmart. She gained about 7.4 billion dollars due to rising stock of about of her company up to 5% since March 2020.

 6. Gina Rinehart

 Gina Rinehart is a woman of 67 years, having a net worth of about 23.6 billion dollars and is a citizen of Australia. She is well known for being the richest person in Australia who serves as the chairperson of Hancock Prospecting Group, which is a mining and agriculture company. This was founded by her father, Land Hancock, which partially affected in 2020 but soon recovered by a stake of about 77% in the whole group. The majority affecting the company comes from the Iron ore department during the pandemic times.

 7. Yang Huiyan

Yang is the only owner of 58% who owns the China-based real estate. Having got it from her father as the equity of the business since 2007 has the bet worth of 30 billion dollars. She is a 39 years woman staying in China currently.

8. Iris Fontbona

 Iris is 78 years old and recently stayed in Chile. Her husband passed away in 2005, whose name was alAndronico Luksic, who established a beverage and mining fortune. She has a net worth of 24 billion dollars.

 9. MacKenzie Scott

 MacKenzie is the ex-wife of Jeff Bezoz, who was the Founder of Amazon, and as per the data, it is reported that they got divorced in 2019. This news became very famous because of his splitting property and business, which overall holds as the financial state. Then at the time of separation Bezoz gave away about 6 billion dollars to many non-profitable companies for social work. However, MacKenzie still has a net worth of about 53 billion dollars.

10. Jacqueline Mars

 Jacqueline and own the pet care and food company Skittles and M&M with 40 billion sales. Their grandfather founded this company, Frank. C. Mars in the year 1911. She is an 812 years woman staying in the United States has an estimated worth of 32 billion dollars.

Conclusion

Women are doing extremely wonderful in the field of career and life and have also shown their charm in the business and monetary world. And has built up many business empires with a lot of revenues and success.

Top 10 Billionaires in the World 2021

The rest is an attribute of a person that everyone wants to acquire at a certain point in time. This is one of the most important aspects for most people who have been earning billions over the past. Most of the people globally look forward to these business tycoons are their icons as they make great monetary figures and have played a crucial role in the revolution of the world through their business ideologies.

  1. Bernard Arnault

Bernard Arnault is one of the most prominent and successful French investors, businessmen and art collectors that has been ever known. He has been setting a benchmark in the entire investment platform and has revolutionized the world through his amazing vision. He was born on the 5th of March 1949, and he had been known as the richest man on earth through his net figures by August 2021. He has a net worth of 198.5 Billion USD. Bernard is the chairman of LVHM and Christian Dior. He started his professional career in 1971, and since then, he has been setting up a legacy for himself after he took the acquisition of LVHM.

2. Jeff Bezos

One of the most prominent names, which most people worldwide have a clear idea about, is Jeff Bezos. Jeff Bezos is one of the most successful and globally known business ideas as he has been the president of Amazon. Amazon is one of the most prominent E-Commerce platforms which has been functioning all over the globe, and just basis is the mastermind behind this huge company. Jeff Bezos was born on the 12th of January 1964. He is a business tycoon and an investor. Jeff Bezos has a huge net worth of 194.9 billion dollars

3. Elon musk

A name which has been gaining a lot of attention in today’s date because of his knowledge and expertise and his visionary of revolution of the entire world, it’s very obvious to talk about Elon Musk. Elon Musk has been one of the most prominent names in the entire evolution of automobiles and space. Elon Musk is a person who generated and provided the world with the idea of PayPal. After a certain amount of time, Elon Musk started a company known as Tesla, which field which luxury cars were completely based upon electric motors. Tesla cars were highly ambitious, and the designs were made in a specific way to create a huge boom in the market. He also all the company is known as space X, which deals with a different type of researches associated with space. Elon Musk has a net worth of 185.5 Billion USD

4. Bill gates

Technology has always been a blessing in the modern era. Most technological gadgets like a laptop or mobile phone do need an operating system. One of the most common operating systems widely seen in most computers and laptops is Microsoft. The mastermind behind Microsoft has created a huge empire of technological gigs in today’s world is bill gates. Bill gates are the founder of Microsoft and have been one of the most prominent business types in the whole world. He has a net worth of 132 billion dollars.

5. Mark Zuckerberg

A person who has shaped the world of social media in today’s date is Mark Zuckerberg. Mark. Zuckerberg is the founder of Facebook and is one of the world’s leading business tycoons of today’s date. Facebook recently acquired huge social media companies like WhatsApp and Instagram, which does an extended arm for Mark Zuckerberg and his business. Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook and his co-founder in the year 2004, and since then, he has been witnessing the growth of social media. He has been widely famous for his extensive work of different methodologies of Facebook and has a net worth of 130.6 Billion dollars.

6. Larry Page

Larry Page is an American business magnate, Internet entrepreneur and a great computer scientist. He is famously known as the co-founder of Google, along with Sergey Brin. Page was born on March 26, 1973. He was not only the chief executive of Google but also became the CEO of Alphabet Inc. It has also been known that Page is an investor in Tesla Motors and has also invested in renewable energy technology with the help of Google, which is one of the most widely spread platforms. The page has a net worth of 11,640 crores USD.

7. Larry Ellison

Lary Alison is an American businessman who is also an investor, executive chairman, chief technology officer and former chief executive officer of oracle corporation. He was born on 17 August 1944. He was listed as the ninth wealthiest person in the US and the tenth wealthiest person in the world. He has a net worth of 11,630 crores. Ellison wrote a book named “An Intimate Portrait of Larry Ellison and Oracle. In the year 1997, Ellison was awarded the golden plate award of the American academy of achievement. He was also inducted into the bay area business hall of fame and was recognised as a successful businessman.

8. Sergey brin

When every person has to look out for something over the internet, the one website everyone relies upon, Google, is. Google has been the largest search engine that has been functional in a long period, and the co-founder of this huge company is Sergey brin. Sergey brin, along with Larry Page, founded the huge search engine known as Google. He was born in the year 1973 on the 21st of August. After completing his education Larry Page and started working on search engines and then launch Google. Brin is not only the co-founder of Google but also is the co-founder of alphabetic. And PageRank. Sergey brin has a net worth of 112.8 B dollars.

9. Warren Edward Buffet

Warren Edward buffet has been widely popular all around The World because of his theory of investments. He has truly fascinated many investors worldwide with his great fascinating investment method, which provides guaranteed success to the investors but in the long term. He is an American philanthropist and the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.  Warren buffet has a net worth of 101.6B.

10. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & Family

Francoise Bettencourt has been one of the world’s largest businesswomen. She is also the world’s richest woman. Francoise Bettencourt has been a huge name for herself after becoming the founder of loreal, one of the world’s largest companies that deal with their associated products. She had been dressed in a stick catholic home but has had great Wall exposure, which provided her with the platform she has today. She has a net worth of 92.9billiom dollars.

These are the top 10 richest individuals which the world has seen. They have utilised their business ideas in the best possible way and has created a signature in the whole world of business philanthropy.

How can you Increase your Cover Amount for Term Insurance?

Life is steadily developing, and so are your financial wants. With age, your responsibilities also increase, and you might want to offer additional protection to your family in your absence. If you have invested in a term insurance plan early in life and over the years have realized that your loved ones need more financial security, you can always increase the sum assured amount.

Read on to know how you can increase the cover amount of term insurance plans.

How to increase your cover amount for online term insurance?

There are two ways to increase your cover amount:

Use the increasing cover option in your existing policy: If your current policy offers the rising sum assured option, you can go forward and raise the cover amount and enjoy more reliable protection. Many term insurance plans provide this feature to increase the sum assured at major life stages, such as when you get married, have a child, or adopt a child. This allows you to ensure that your loved ones are well-protected all the time.

When you opt for this option, the insurance company will likely increase your premium amount in proportion to the sum assured amount. However, the rest of the features and services remain the same, and there is no change in the terms and conditions of the plan. In the unfortunate event of death, your loved ones receive the updated sum assured amount, as long as you have paid all premiums and the policy is active.

This is a convenient option as you can modify your existing plan without any hassles. 

 Purchase a new plan with a higher sum assured: 

If your current insurance provider does not offer the option to increase the cover amount of your online term insurance plan, you can consider purchasing a new term plan. In this case, you will have to surrender your old policy and then buy a new plan from a new insurer. The new insurance company will offer you a plan based on your current age, medical history, policy term, and sum assured. The premiums for a new plan may be more as you would be older than when you bought your old policy. So, it is imperative to compare different plans, features, services, premiums, etc., and then pick a plan that is the most cost-effective.

While this option may seem a bit tedious, it can be ideal if you are not happy with your existing term insurance plan and insurer and want to move to a better company. Also, keep in mind that it is better to go through slight inconvenience now rather than leave your loved ones with an inadequate cover amount in your absence.

Which of the two options is better?

The choice would entirely depend on your needs and your current policy. If you are happy with your existing plan and your insurer agrees to increase your cover, you can stick with the same company. However, if your current insurer lacks in providing you with the required features and cover, you should consider moving to another insurance provider. Various insurance companies offer online term insurance plans these days, making it easy and hassle-free to purchase insurance from the comfort of your home.

To sum it up

Before you increase your cover amount, make sure to evaluate your needs thoroughly and pick an amount that will protect your family members and beat inflation. Moreover, it would be best to keep in mind that the policy’s premiums increase with an increase in the sum assured. So, pick a cover amount that fits your budget.

If you are looking for high sum assured options at affordable rates, you can explore many options that can be suitable for all income and age groups.

How to find initial customers

If you have just started your business in any sector and your primary objective of earning revenue is through providing services; then your burning question should, “How do I find initial customers?” Finding initial customers can be a bit tricky since there are a lot of measures and steps that need to be undertaken to get to that point. We will be discussing some smart points on how you can find initial customers to boost your business.

Strategies on finding initial customers

We will now be taking a look at some of the strategies for finding an initial set of customers as they are important in taking your business forward,

  1. Create a list – Since you have laid the groundwork for establishing a business, you would have met a potential set of customers. You could have met them through social media interactions, focus groups, and other similar instances. Create a list and add them as potentials that would help you in establishing your business. You can even set aside some time to browse online for potential clients and interacting with them.
  2. Referrals – Ask around and know people who might have an interest in buying what you are selling. Getting good referrals can also be important in getting more like-minded customers and connections that are interested in you. You can even speak with your friends who are veterans and get ideas on how to score big through referral connections.
  3. Work upon your network – You need to search for some local business networking groups and gain perspective about your domain and industry. Understand how you would be able to help others as opposed to how they can help you. Creating a connection with these business owners is a great way to meet prospects if you are selling B2B or B2C.
  4. Show off – Yes, you heard it right. You need to showcase your services at trade events that would attract a sizeable amount of customer base that you would cater to. Doing this will help you in getting clients, potential customers, interested buyers, referrals, and even great contacts.
  5. Industry events – Another important way in finding prospects and initial customers is through industry events. There is no need to have a separate booth installed for yourself where you would want to sell your services. Instead, you can just meet your clients, have a one-on-one interaction about the industry, its potential growth, how each of you is contributing towards making it flourish. Focus on creating your connections first instead of making a hard sale of your services, that might not bode well. Building a relationship is a slow process and you must nurture it with time to see it grow.
  6. Team up with business owners – You can also find an entrepreneur whose products and services are not competitive and also ask them to connect you with some of the potential customers and clients. Having a partner who has an understanding of these matters also goes a long way when it comes to developing contacts with initial customers. You can use the online social network to connect with business owners and ask them for their assistance with regards to approaching the initial customers.

Conclusion

Getting the initial set of customers whilst starting your business can be challenging since it is the initial phase of revenue generation. There would be a lot of things involved, a lot of disappointments, and a lot of learning; but when you get there, it is important to nurture your relationship with them with care. Make sure that they are satisfied with the work that you provide to them, as this would help you attract more customers.

Lean Startup Methodology

What is Lean Startup Methodology?

If you are an entrepreneur and you had an idea on launching a startup, then you must have heard about the “lean startup methodology”. Entrepreneurs usually build their product for their startup and then they assume that customers will flock around to buy them which is the incorrect way of approaching this scenario. Lean Startup methodology provides you with a step-by-step and scientific approach to launching a startup that will take feedback from the users to guide you and then enhance the development of your product.

The methodology provides some very key differences between the traditional business models and the startups. It stems from innovations as opposed to a rigid business model that is already in use and still being used by many companies around the world.

Principles of the Lean Startup Methodology

Let us, deep-dive, into some of the principles of the lean startup methodology,

  1. Entrepreneurs are ubiquitous

If you own a startup firm, then you are an entrepreneur who can apply the lean startup methodology. Irrespective of the space that you are working at, be it your living room or garage, or office space; if you can save time and space and this methodology works for you, go for it.

  1. Management

Startups also need management. The process will not be traditional but entrepreneurship involves non-protocol-based and risk-inclined management which you might have to employ.

  1. Validated Learning

Lean startups are about creating a viable business model through validated learning. This will mean considering the above points and accordingly basing your decisions.

  1. Innovation Accounting

If you have a startup, and you have the lean methodology in place then entrepreneurs would need to objectively monitor their progress, set up deadlines, and make the right decisions as per the relevant data.

  1. Build, measure, learn

This loop enables validated learning through minimum viable products where the experiments are conducted. This is one of the main principles of the lean startup methodology.

Business Model Creation

Business models are the baseline of any business, and one of the easiest ways to make it is through a standard business canvas or a one-page business plan. The reason for making it this simple is because lean startups are dynamic and fast-paced. It keeps the entrepreneurs on their toes which is why a one-page business model is an obvious choice.

This is the point where you initiate the problem-solving process, create your hypothesis and a plan of action. This now takes us to the following part of the process, which is the three stages of the lean startup, and these are as follows,

  1. Problem/Solution Fit – Validating that the issue to be resolved is genuine, do customers want a solution to this problem, and would they pay you for it?
  2. Product/Market Fit – You should be validating the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and the business model. Your product will then be trying to mitigate the customer issues based on how you have designed it and will also determine if it is fit for the market.
  3. Growth Stage – Once your startup is fully functional you would need to think about growth opportunities and scaling the product to a wider range of customers. Funds would need to be brought in and this will require making your product better for a smoother experience.

Conclusion

Lean Startup Methodology is helpful if entrepreneurs want a scientific, proven, and step-by-step way to create a startup. It provides them with options and opportunities as per the relevant data it pulls which in turn is helpful to build a startup that is sustainable in the long run.

How to get funding for a business

Introduction

There will be time when you need to raise money or get a new financing round in business. There are many ways to invest cash into your business, but debt or capital is the two most common. Both are very different, and you can see which one is right for your business. Let’s dig deeper to understand and simplify the process. You should know how to raise funds for a business.

Debt finance is the process of borrowing money from a lender and paying it back with interest over a period of time. The most common way to raise debt is to borrow from a bank or NBFC. Debt lending is a common way to raise money for millions of companies across the country. When you collect money through a loan, you haven’t let go of any stock in your business, which means your property remains intact. This makes loans a popular option among borrowers. After all, in addition to an innovative business idea, new businesses depend on financial resources to make their expected rapid growth sustainable. Of course, the amount of capital a company needs depends on the business model. But where did the funds come from?

In addition to traditional creditors such as banks and state institutions, several sponsors nowadays specialize in financing new businesses.

Top funding options apart from a traditional bank.

Crowdfunding

The concept of crowdfunding is very similar to mutual trust at a basic level. This option involves multiple investors and offers a fixed amount based on business ideas, goals, action plans, and profitable plans. All you need are people who believe in your business ideas. This is one of the easiest ways to raise money without a loan.

Consider Self-funding

Commonly known as bootstrap, this plan is an ideal action plan when it is difficult to convince others of your business ideas and visions. Investors often seek traction before investing. The first self-financing round allows you to demonstrate your thoughts’ feasibility and build investor confidence in the new round of financing.

Bootstrap is an excellent idea for startup financing, especially if your initial business requirements are small. It also gives you the freedom to be your boss. You can’t answer anyone, which also allows you to control your income growth.

Private Lending

In addition to the funding options mentioned above, private lending can be a viable option for businesses seeking capital. These are often individuals or investment groups that offer loans with terms and conditions that can be more flexible than those of traditional banks. This can be particularly appealing to startups or businesses with unique funding needs who might not meet the strict requirements of banks.

Some platforms that connect borrowers with a private lender are adopting a “”people-first”” approach, emphasizing transparency, personalized service, and a focus on building long-term relationships with borrowers. These platforms can be a good starting point for businesses exploring private lending options.

Get in touch with the Venture Capitalists.

Venture capitalists, a safe destination for big bets, offer professionally managed funds looking for funding for startups. The best part of venture capital investment is the experience and follow-through they bring. Venture capitalists usually invest in stocks, and they leave when a company initiates an initial public offering or is acquired.

Venture capitalists often look for startups with sufficient traction and a strong team. However, if you choose to raise funds from venture capital, be flexible enough to be informed and accept scrutiny.

Try Angel Investment

Cash surplus people invest in promising startups and try to gain market share when they reach their potential. They can work alone or collectively in a network to find new companies with great potential. This funding option has a business mindset that wants you to be interested in your success and expect up to 30% equity.

The investors for startup are expected to be of high interest and low investment compared to venture capitalists. Still, it’s important to remember that even Google, Yahoo, and Alibaba were the result of angel investing.

Borrow vs. fundraise: which is best for your business.

Fundraising

Advantages

Finding an investor may be a better strategic move to help you grow your business, Des Marteau said. Investors often offer more than just capital. They may have business connections, manufacturing capabilities, distribution experience, etc. He was inaccessible by other means. If that’s what your business needs, you may also be able to receive a much more considerable amount from a venture capitalist or angel investor than from a loan.

When using a crowdfunding route, unlike certified equity investors, entry barriers are much lower than getting a loan. Instead of going through a lengthy application and credit check process, anyone can launch a crowdfunding campaign with just a few clicks. This is also a wise option if you need to raise a small amount of money. Both commercial lenders and investors tend to negotiate large amounts of capital.

Finally, financing works for businesses at any stage. On the other hand, most lenders’ “business hours” requirement eliminates startups that need to procure seed capital to get going.

Disadvantages

One of the most significant drawbacks of equity financing is the need to relinquish ownership of the business. According to Chan, investors are more likely to maintain a larger share of earnings than mortgage repayments and often seek in-house decision-making power as part of their stock.

Consumer crowdfunding sponsors may not demand fairness, but these platforms usually have low success rates, and campaigns take a lot of time and energy to raise money.

Borrow

Advantages

Loans are one of the most profitable ways to fund your business. When you get a loan through a bank or SBA (Small and Medium Business Administration) lender, the interest rate is usually lower than a personal loan. You can also enjoy some tax incentives. Taking a loan also allows you to increase your business credit score when you repay the loan.

Disadvantages

The application process is very long if you consider getting a traditional bank loan or an SBA bank loan. You often need to meet a long list of prerequisites, including being an established business rather than a new company. Mr. Chan also pointed out that the loan also means that if the loan cannot be repaid, there is a risk of losing collateral.

Benefits of alternative funding 

Alternative lenders often charge a higher interest rate for their convenience, although the approval and financing process is usually much faster. Evan Singer, general manager of SBA loan provider, is beneficial in the easiest business loan. It helps in a pinch. They might not be a good long-term strategy because of the highest rates. I warned you.

  • Rapid application process.

It can take weeks, or even months, for a bank to confirm a loan application. Also, disagreements and concerns about collateral valuation (because banks usually underestimate collateral to reduce their risk exposure) can slow down the process.

At the other end of the speed, the spectrum is alternative financing. Evaluating an application typically takes a few days, or up to a day for National Business Capital & Services.

  • Access to unsecured business finance solutions.

All bank loans are secured by business and personal assets. This is not always the case with alternative financing, where many financing solutions are not guaranteed in approval of business loan. For example, National Business Capital offers unsecured working capital loans, credit lines, and Merchant Cash Advances.

  • Impairment or lousy credit approval.

Banks claim good personal and business credit scores. The latter is especially problematic for some applicants who don’t even know they have a business credit score in the first place.

  • Corporate financing through a capital increase

One way to raise money for your company without going to the bank is to decide to increase your equity capital. This will allow the entry of capitalist partners who will fund the company to exchange shares or participation.

Before publishing your capital increase offer, we recommend that you first research and elaborate on the amount of funding you need and then adjust the offer to your financial goals.

One way to do this is to use Equity Crowdfunding, which follows the same system as crowdfunding, with the difference that investors receive shares in the lending company. This allows the company to raise funds.

Tips for finding the best funding options

  1. Financing to companies by factoring

This is one of the more common ways to raise money among large companies than small businesses. Therefore, this is a way to proceed with collecting company invoices without resorting to commercial discounts.

  1. Corporate financing through venture capital

If your company is a startup with high growth and innovation potential, this is one of the best options for raising private funding for entrepreneurs. Venture capital is a company managed by so-called general and limited liability companies responsible for the funds raised through private investors.

  1. Financing to companies through IPO

This is a financing tool for large corporations, as it requires a minimum of € 1.2 million in capital to do so. If your business is listed, it will be an important way to raise money for your business.

  1. Funding my company with public assistance

Before assessing a company’s financing through this option, remember that the aid or subsidy is a public incentive, not the source of funding itself, as the subsidy rarely fully covers the project’s entire cost.

Conclusion

Financing is an essential aspect of realizing your business vision. Funding and financing are both basic modern business scenarios that support the growth of startups startup. The first round of funding, commonly known as seed funding, forms the basis for financing. Series A, B, and C funding rounds follow. Seed funding usually refers to the essential initial funding round, but Series A, B, and C differ in the business’s maturity and investors’ types. Financing the series will help you evolve your start-up into a full-fledged organization by supporting it with the funds calculated in crucial steps.

5 lessons you can learn from some of the world’s best businesswomen

A businesswoman is defined as someone who is actively involved in the business world. She is responsible for undertaking activities, whether commercial or industrial, to generate cash, sales, flow, etc. Many great businesswomen worldwide work in an important position in a company or who own their own company. Nowadays, businesswomen are much in demand, and almost every country has top businesswomen with them. Many young businesswomen stepped into the business field at a very young age and still are doing wonders. Still, at the very same time, some businesswomen have been excellently ruling their businesses from the past.

5 lessons you can take away from some of the most successful businesswomen in the world

1st lesson

The first lesson to learn is always to put yourself first. We have always been that serving is one of the top characteristics of good businesswomen but along with this one of the most things which we are unaware of is that we only try to instruct our employees about what to do rather we should always think and start asking what it is which we can do to help them.

2nd lesson

First, Impressions are powerful and are long-lasting. This is the second lesson which we need to learn. We should always keep in mind that first impressions are everything and are very long- lasting in anyone’s mind. Starting from the greeting, the handshakes and the presentation, everything you do should be formal so that the other person feels valued and respected. Whenever in a meeting, walk with full confidence from the door and give it your best. In this way, your first impression will be much powerful and empowering.

3rd lesson

Don’t concentrate much on what you say. Rather concentrate on how you say it. Even if you are pointing a mistake at someone in front of them, try not to shout a raise your voice against them. The use of a positive tone of voice or a negative response might influence the other person’s thinking. Your reactions and behaviour matter more than the actual words which you say in the office. Whatever you want to say to your employees, clients or anyone present in the office, you should always come to your anger and talk politely to everyone. This is the key to maintaining good relations in the office.

4th lesson

It is completely ok for the leaders to work in the business. A good businesswoman does not think if she is just a leader or mentor and should not do the employees’ work. In challenging circumstances, be certain that you and your staff put out their best effort to help your company flourish. Always think your business to be small so that it grows bigger each day. And if you start thinking that your business is already in a good state and has already achieved many things, then your business might grow small.

5th lesson

Stop comparing yourself access with others and start focusing on building your business more. You can surely learn more from others, but once you start comparing the success they have, the new might get discouraged, and your good going business can get worse. Learning from other companies or even from your employees to better your business should always be done. You need to stay focused and work hard and make your business better each day.

The above mentioned are the most important lessons that every business aspirant should know and learn to be successful like these businesswomen.

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