Who You Need to Help Get Your Startup Off the Ground

When it comes to creating and running a successful startup, there's nothing more important than the people involved in its day-to-day operations. While your core idea and starting capital size play crucial roles, especially in the startup's initial few months, the internal brainpower who make the strategic and financial decisions will have the greatest impact. So, who should be on your roster when you start a business? Here are the four people you should have by your side. 

Family Members/Relatives 

This is an overlooked member of any business since it sounds obvious and non-technical. However, family members and relatives can either provide immense financial help and moral support or derail you from reaching your business goals. Inform your family members and relatives about your business plans, especially those who have a degree in business management or related field, or have managed or founded a company at some point in their lives. If you have help by your side who support and believe in the goal, you’ll make a lot more progress.

Creative People 

The creative department of your startup will serve as the spark plug behind product development and expansion. While the latter is not required to lift a startup off the ground, the development phase is something you'll want to focus on. A startup with no product or service to offer to customers will stall as soon as it lifts off. Creative people provide an abstract point of view or approach on how to solve certain problems.

Engineers

The problem solvers and technical staff will be charged with making sure your platform and product are both up to par with predetermined quality standards. Engineers are the backbone of your startup and you'll want to make sure you vet and hire the right people to fill the positions. Software engineers are becoming a staple in any startup. These professionals help your startup establish a solid and intuitive presence online. 

Salespeople 

To get the word out that your brand has lifted off, salespeople will connect you with interested third-parties and retail customers. Your sales force will create opportunities for networking with other businesses that can help your business grow as well as with customers who want to buy from you. While a degree in marketing is crucial, it should only come second to actual field experience. 

Once you have these four people on board, it's time to tackle the more complex challenges that lie ahead including who to best market to, how to beat more established competitors, and how to fund the next few months of your operation.