In their excitement to launch their new ventures, many entrepreneurs tend to minimize the level of risk involved with their startup. But for funders and investors, new-venture risk assessment is a critical part of the evaluation and decision-making processes. In my work with entrepreneurs seeking funding for their startups or early-stage ventures, I generally find that most have not adequately factored risk into their plans. However, from both a funding and an operational perspective, it is important to not just identify the risks, but to consider how they will be overcome or minimized.
Assessing and planning for the various risks a new venture might face increases the likelihood that these challenges can be overcome with little or no impact on the business. Whether seeking external funding or for internal operations, here are some of the risks that entrepreneurs should consider:
• Business model risk: What is the risk that the business model is inherently flawed? Does the revenue model appear valid? If not, what are the assumptions required to achieve profitability?
Assessing Startup Risk
by Ron Flavin