I Got Funding! Now what?

Tips for growing startups as they level up

You’re on top of the world! You’ve just received your first round of funding and are looking to get that shiny new website you’ve always dreamed of! NOT SO FAST! Before you start throwing money at all those luxuries you couldn’t afford when you were bootstrapping, step back and reevaluate what you know about your business.

1. Validate your idea...again - You may have done customer testing when you first started and even made a few sales, but now is the time to focus. Before, the hustle was about getting cash flow. Now you need to know exactly who you're talking to before moving forward with any design or development work. 
2. Speak to your customer - Now that you’re sure who your audience is, build a launch campaign that your target market will love, rather than a generic campaign that doesn’t speak to anyone. 
3. Focus your messaging on outcomes- Don’t list all the features of your product on your website. Nobody cares. Work on showcasing what your customers will get out of it — what’s in it for them? What is the emotional outcome of using your product? 
4. Remember, “Pay cheap, pay twice” - Be sure the service providers you use are quality, not just the cheapest option. Shoddy design or development will cost you both time and money in the long run. It can also lose you customers. 
5. Hire a good team - Only hire people who are smarter than you, or at least know lots about the things that you don’t. This will allow you to have the in-house expertise to make quicker decisions and grow faster. It's quality over quantity.

The moral of the story is: don’t rush. Take the time to make sure you're making the right decisions for the next stage of your company. By investing in quality, quality content and quality suppliers, you'll provide content and services that resonate with your audience.

Battalion is a digital creative agency with offices in Berlin and Manchester. Whether we’re working with startups trying to get noticed of established companies wanting to refresh, we collaborate with our clients to create what they need to succeed. Need new brand strategy, websites, or design work? Get in touch at wearebattalion.com