Start-up creation: advice and software selection
Today, entrepreneurship is a temptation for many talents. Yet many fail. How can you be one of those who succeed? What do you need to know? How to make the most of BI (business intelligence)? Alone or with others, do you have an idea and the ambition to become an entrepreneur? You're full of good will, but you sense that there are pitfalls ahead... How can you avoid them? And failing that, how can you prepare yourself to innovate while overcoming them? appvizer sheds light on how to succeed in the adventure of setting up your own business.
1/ French tech: the ideal breeding ground for innovative companies
Aware of the importance of digital technology to the country's growth and global competitiveness, the French government has launched a program you've probably heard of: French Tech. First under the aegis of Fleur Pellerin when she was Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, then with Axelle Lemaire, the phenomenon has continued to grow ever since.
Cities have been invited to deploy and enhance their digital infrastructures, and have been granted budget envelopes to develop them in concrete terms. Lyon, Toulouse, Montpellier, Nantes, Bordeaux and regions such as the Côte d'Azur, the Alps, Lorraine and Normandy have all been awarded the label.
What does this mean in concrete terms for you, the entrepreneur? That the context is propitious! That many SMEs are emerging in these regions, buoyed by a favorable wind. And since success is not the fruit of a single initiative, but rather the result of a set of favorable conditions, this ecosystem is a promising one for any young innovative start-up.
Find out more: what FrenchTech programs are available to help you? Which events bring together the key players? "Networking is a must. Meeting entrepreneurs enriches your business vision, and teaches you about the market and new technologies. Get in touch with incubators, gas pedals, etc. Take part in pitch competitions. You'll come out stronger and more solid.
2/ The pitch: the key to seducing young entrepreneurs
At the root of everything, there's the pitch. It's a brilliant and formidable exercise. It's all about explaining your project... in 3 minutes! A good test. It's a classic phase that requires real preparation. The first few times, your speech may seem a bit cluttered. Arguments pile up without relief. Gradually, you'll get the hang of it, the guiding idea, until, in just a few sentences, you've succeeded in laying out a taut trajectory, with unstoppable logic, from the why to the how. This is where the Prezi presentation tool comes into its own: cause-and-effect links offer real nuance. So you're better able to put your approach into context. Its visual representation accompanies the message, making it more powerful.
3/ A convincing business plan
It's all the more important to convince people that you need to rally around you to find associates, partners, early adopters and investment funds! While investors will be sensitive to your ability to seduce them with your idea, they will also be looking at your figures. As founder, how do you intend to find customers, generate orders and sales? How will you add value compared to existing players? In what order will you proceed, and what are your prospects for the short, medium and long term?
To answer such questions straightforwardly, there's only one tool: the business plan. This is where you detail your vision and the mechanics of your business model. The Montpellier Business Plan Classic tool helps you build your business plan. appvizer also provides three templates to help you:
4/ Fund-raising tools
Successful fund-raising is a sine qua non. On the one hand, business angels are investors, managers of large companies, who may or may not decide to invest and support you... or not. Another phenomenon has exploded in recent years: participative financing. This is known as love money. Peer-to-peer crowdfunding platforms are a great success. As a company, you can also create your own fundraising interface with the dedicated Particeep software.
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5/ Open innovation, companies and start-ups
Companies also have the opportunity to interact within the dynamic ecosystem of start-ups. This is known as open innovation. An increasing number of companies are backing external projects and supporting innovative initiatives :
- for the entrepreneur, with the partnership adding value,
- for the company, where a wind ofinnovation blows in.
Software tools such as Azendo help to set up a project management system adapted to the successful implementation of this type of approach.
6/ Business intelligence for better business management
For many start-ups, the analysis and visualization of data enabled by BI means that results can be better interpreted. Monitoring your business in Excel can become tedious when you have to enter everything by hand. The vizzboard online tool saves you precious time: for example, you import your data files and design your own dynamic dashboards. You share a precise dashboard with the people you choose (customers, partners or employees). You use dynamic indicators that you have defined in advance. The output is automatic: you manage your data intuitively. All in all, this business intelligence tool brings you considerable productivity gains.
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The entrepreneurial adventure is a formidable journey, albeit fraught with pitfalls. However, good preparation and in-depth knowledge of the ecosystem, combined with a choice of high-performance, specialized tools, are the best way to ensure the success of your project.
Article translated from French