Tech startups can have huge potential financially and even culturally. Facebook has changed the way that consumers share photos and even review businesses. Amazon has changed shopping and shipping forever by putting a focus on the customer. All tech startups are going to encounter issues that will be complex to solve. Brushing off an issue can lead to a problem compounding and becoming far worse. A small problem could have a large impact on a startup due to the size of the company. Take time before reacting to issues as a clear mind to make a decision can allow management to weigh out all of their options. Below are 5 problems that tech startups face along with tips to help overcome these obstacles.
The leaking of information is a bigger issue for each startup. Security is mostly important. if developing a new cutting-edge product or software. The repository by JFrog is a great example of how to securely share information across an organization.
Missing deadlines is one of the easiest ways to lose a client permanently. Communication is key if the company is going to miss a deadline as it shouldn’t be sprung on the client last-minute. The right project management program can be a huge help as it can improve the workflow on a project. Do not take on deadlines that are impossible as this is setting the company up for failure along with added stress. For large projects, it can be wise to hire freelancers to take care of a portion of the project. Freelancers can use to scale quite easily so having a pool of reliable freelancers should be a priority for a tech startup.
The work hard and party hard mantra is a staple for many tech startups. The potential for substance abuse to enter the office in any business niche exists. The last thing a startup wants is a drunk or high employee ruining multiple client relationships in a single day. Offering the employee resources that can help them with their substance abuse is one way to deal with it. Terminating the employee after a warning for coming into work drunk/high is essential. It becomes more difficult if the staff member is highly productive. Reprimand all employees in the same way regardless of their production levels. Otherwise, firing one employee and not firing another for the same offenses will be seen as discrimination.
The sales team struggling can hurt a tech startup immensely when it comes to cash flow. The quality of the leads the marketing team is drumming up needs to be analyzed. Low-quality leads or those that are unqualified to purchase are a waste of time for the sales team. Take the time to look into different tools that help with things like seeing the open rates of an email with a pitch. Allowing the team to sit in on pitches on the phone with top salespeople can help immensely. Improving sales materials can also improve the closing rate for the sales team. Take care of all of the details that can impact sales as this is truly setting up the sales team for success.
The lack of a consistent hiring process can lead to hires being low-quality. A great way to ensure the quality of hire is to work with them on the freelance level for a few projects first. Jobseekers could view this as a paid training period where they are expected to be productive and hit deadlines. Versatile hires need to be considered as the business grows these employees can be used in various departments. Look into programs that help with hiring, job postings, and utilizes data pulled from resumes. A company might find that certain experience tends to link with a quality employee. The ability to look back at great hires can also provide valuable information for the hiring process.
Startup life can be exciting and seeing work impact the health of the company can be rewarding for employees. Take the time to manage the small details as leaving things up to change is unwise. It’s also important to prioritize your own mental health as you manage your tech startup. One way you can strengthen your mental health is by connecting with the licensed counselors at BetterHelp. Work hard as well as intelligently to help build the startup to unseen levels of success!
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