from big corporate to running your own business

FROM BIG CORPORATE TO RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS

5 things they don’t tell you … until it’s too late

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES

#1 BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR IS LONELY… ESPECIALLY EARLY ON

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES

#1 BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR IS LONELY… ESPECIALLY EARLY ON

Where's the HR team, the finance department, the strategy analyst? Why does nothing happen when I’m out on the road? Who can I turn to with ideas & issues?

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES

#2 SILICON VALLEY IS NOT THE NORM;TALENT DOESN’T QUEUE UP

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES

#2 SILICON VALLEY IS NOT THE NORM;TALENT DOESN’T QUEUE

Why do good people not want to join a company they don’t know for less pay, fewer benefits - and less certainty?!

How do I make them see the vision and the potential of my start-up?

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES

#3 EVEN IN A BUOYANT MARKET, IT IS HARD TO FIND THE INVESTORS WHO ARE RIGHT

FOR YOU

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES

#3 EVEN IN A BUOYANT MARKET, IT IS HARD TO FIND THE INVESTORS WHO ARE RIGHT

FOR YOU

What's the value of my business? What share should I give away? Are the terms fair? Will the investors help beyond just $$$?

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES#4 CONVINCING CUSTOMERS TO ACTUALLY PAY MONEY FOR A NEW PRODUCT IS HARD

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES#4 CONVINCING CUSTOMERS TO ACTUALLY PAY MONEY FOR A NEW PRODUCT IS HARD

• Why do I only get to talk to the guy down the chain?

• What discounts do I give to get in the door?

• Why does it take so long to close?

• How do I make sure I don’t lose a client over small setbacks?

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES

#5 CASH IS KING, BUT CUSTOMERS DON’T SEEM TO CARE

• Didn’t we agree on 30 days payment?

• What if, by asking for my money, I annoy the customers I took so much trouble to acquire?

• Will they really care if I ‘switch them off’?

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES

#5 CASH IS KING, BUT CUSTOMERS DON’T SEEM TO CARE

1. Being an entrepreneur is lonely, especially early on

2. Silicon Valley is not the norm; talent doesn’t queue up to join start-ups

3. Even in a buoyant market, it is hard to find the investors who are right for you

4. Convincing customers to actually pay money for a new product or service is much harder than it seems

5. Cash is king… but customers don’t seem to care

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES

FROM BIG CORPORATE TO SME 5 THINGS THEY DON’T TELL YOU… UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE

SOUQALMAL.COM2,800+ PRODUCTS/ 3 COUNTRIES

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Ambareen MusaCEO & Founder, Souqalmal.com

@ambareenm