Startup Checklist
Never assume the truth. Verify facts by walking the pipe with domain experts to learn who you can trust.
Instructions
Use this template process along with completing the Business Strategy Review checklist to initiate a new business or a growth project for an exiting business.
- Business Principles: Check your understanding of first principles.
- Business Development Projects: Sell your dream then dream up the engineering.
Checklist
It's not what you know but knowing what to ask that matters most
Create and maintain these documents to ensure a solid foundation for running your startup operations effectively. Remember to regularly review and update these documents as your business evolves.
| SYSTEM/ASSET | TYPE | JTBD |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch Deck | App | The point of the iceberg |
| Discounted Cash Flow | Financial Model | |
| Business Model Canvas | Diagram | |
| Business Plan | Document | |
| Business Playbook | Document | |
| Financial Model | Financial Model | |
| Legal Documents | Document | |
| Product Roadmap | Diagrams & Checklists | |
| Marketing Strategy | Document | |
| Customer Acquisition | Document | |
| Risk Mitigation | Financial Model |
- TYPE: What are the different types of document that define the world around us?
- JTBD: What purpose does this digital asset serve?
Starting a successful business relies on having enough Credit and Credibility to get the snowball rolling
Pitch Deck
A concise presentation that summarizes your business idea, market opportunity, solution, team, and financial projections. This is crucial for investor communications.
| The Picture | Question | Dream | Engineering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem and Perspective | Waste? Where is the pain felt most? | ?/5 | ?/5 |
| Purpose and Potential | What do you stand for? What is the gap to be filled? | ?/5 | ?/5 |
| Product and Performance | What outcomes define success? | ?/5 | ?/5 |
| Platform and Process | How do you delivery quality with capacity to scale? | ?/5 | ?/5 |
| People and Persuasion | How do you build a collaborative culture? | ?/5 | ?/5 |
| Predictions and Priorities | Near horizon obstacles, opportunities and plan of action | ?/5 | ?/5 |
| Profit versus Value System | Qualify and quantify your bets vs probabilistic risks and returns | ?/5 | ?/5 |
Research:
- Presenting
- Leadership
- Pitch Deck Apps
- Sales Pitch Development
- Venture Capital Pitch Checklist
- Pitching to VCs
Business Model Canvas
The business model provides the overarching strategy, while the playbook offers detailed guidelines for day-to-day operations, ensuring consistency and efficiency as you scale.
This strategic management tool provides a visual overview of your business model, and helps you articulate how your startup will create, deliver, and capture value. Subject areas include:
| RECORD | JTBD |
|---|---|
| Value Creating Activities | |
| Key Partners | |
| Resources | |
| Value Propositions | |
| Customer Relationships | |
| Channels | |
| Customer Segments | |
| Cost Structure | |
| Revenue Streams |
Business Plan
A comprehensive document that outlines your business strategy, market analysis, financial projections, and overall vision. It typically includes:
| RECORD | JTBD |
|---|---|
| Executive Summary | |
| Company Description | |
| Market Analysis | |
| Management Team overview | |
| Products/Services description | |
| Marketing and Sales strategies | |
| Financial Projections |
Business Playbook
This operational manual contains detailed processes, policies, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for your startup. It should include:
| RECORD | JTBD |
|---|---|
| Company vision, mission, and values | |
| Organizational structure | |
| Employee onboarding procedures | |
| Role-specific responsibilities and processes | |
| Best practices for various business functions | |
| Company policies and guidelines |
Financial Model
Detailed projections of your startup's revenue, expenses, and cash flow. This helps in planning and decision-making.
| RECORD | JTBD |
|---|---|
| Cash Flow | |
| Balance Sheet | |
| Profit and Loss | |
| Transactions |
Legal Documents
These may include:
| RECORD | JTBD |
|---|---|
| Articles of Incorporation | |
| Founders' Agreement | |
| Intellectual Property (IP) assignments | |
| Employee contracts | |
| Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) |
Product Roadmap
A strategic document outlining the vision, direction, and progress of your product development.
Marketing Plan
A detailed strategy for promoting your product or service, including target audience, messaging, and channels.
Customer Acquisition
A document outlining your strategies for attracting and retaining customers.
Risk Mitigation
An analysis of potential risks to your business and strategies to address them.