The Startup Velocity Question: What CANNOT be Fixed?

Within the runway of a venture-funded startup, it is excruciatingly difficult to fix core technology problems. 

Engineering problems can be fixed, technology problems are of a different league of intractability.

It is also very difficult to fix market timing issues. Runway tends to run out. 

Can you wait for the market to develop? ONLY if you can do so without additional funding.

Can you pivot? ONLY if you can do so without additional funding.

Therefore, the strategy vis-a-vis many of these higher order challenges is to bootstrap if you can.

If you can extend the runway by operating lean, perhaps you CAN solve some of these problems.

But in general, they’re much harder to fix.

Key Takeaways:

• Core technology problems are extremely difficult to fix within a startup’s runway.
• Market timing issues are challenging to address due to limited runway.
• Waiting for market development or pivoting is only feasible without additional funding.
• Bootstrapping may extend the runway.

My Question to You:

How much runway do you have to fix your problem? 
If you think you need help, consider 1-on-1 Private Consulting with me. I will diagnose and create a path forward in an hour.

Photo by Conor Samuel on Unsplash

This segment is a part in the series : The Startup Velocity Question