New Business Development Portal

1. Does your business idea soothe someone’s pain, discomfort, frustration, or dissatisfaction?
2. Are there lots of those people out there?
3. Do these people (or companies, or governments) have money to pay for it?
4. Will they be able to decide quickly to buy your product or service?
5. Does your idea exploit something about you that is outstanding or unique?
6. Are there important assets you have that no one else has? (money, access to customers, technology, leadership skills, execution, location, salesmanship, etc.)
7. Can you think of at least two people who might join you?
8. Do their skills complement yours?
9. Do they have the same values as you do?
10. Do the majority of people whose opinion you highly respect think your idea is a good one?
11. Does at least one person (and not more than three people), whose opinion you highly respect, think your idea is a bad one?
12. Is there something about the idea or its implementation, that compels you to really devote yourself to it?
13. Can you sneak by the big competitors without them noticing you for awhile?
14. Can you find a potential customer who will take your calls, give you feedback, try a pilot out?
15. Can you start up without huge gobs of money?
16. Can you keep your fixed costs low during launch?
17. Does your idea lend itself to small incremental steps that can inexpensively generate valuable information as well as at least a little cash?
18. Can you think of something that Isenberg has forgotten? (and it is….)

Source: HBR