Do you have what it takes? It’s the question startups are often asked. Being an entrepreneur, building a scalable business is not just a walk in the park, but more like a rollercoaster ride in an amusement park.
Different startups are like different attractions. There are ups and downs on the rides, some running at high speed, others skyrocketing towards the heights, some based on good luck, and others simply a waste of time.
It takes courage to take the first step and maybe a little push from a friend, but most rides are worth it. We, at Tehnopol Startup Incubator can be that pushing “friend”, giving you a hand if needed, or a little kick, but our goal is the same as yours – to enjoy the ride and succeed!
Here are 5 good reasons why to build your startup in an incubator, instead of riding solo
1. Help you take the right steps and avoid mistakes
How to know if the time is right for entering the market, if you’re ready to meet your first big investor, or if there’s even a market fit for your product or service? Assumption is the mother of all f**ups and it’s easy to take the wrong turns if you see it only from the inside.
We all know you love your product, but love can be blind and sometimes you need a good friend or an expert on the side who has a view from another angle. 90% of startups fail and it’s not uncommon that before succeeding, an early-stage founder must pivot 3 times in the first year. We are here to help you avoid the mistakes. By the way, the survival rate of our startups is more than 65%!
2. Get access to a vast network of mentors, experts and industry partners
Our mentor pool has 90+ international mentors, 200+ investors, and connections around several industry partners all over Europe – tech hubs, co-working spaces, startup communities etc.
Facebook once conducted a study that showed that there’s about 3,57 people between any two people in the world. At the same time, we all know how difficult it is to break into a new community, get access to the information on what the ecosystem is offering you.
So, with Tehnopol Startup Incubator, you’re only one step away from anyone you may need – we’ll do the intro, and you’ll be well-connected before you know it!
3. Gain credibility in the eyes of an investor
Being an early-stage startup, it’s not easy to get the investor behind the table, not to mention getting a YES to the deal. International investors have a lot of interest in early-stage startups but they also want to lower their risks and are way more likely to give you the money if you are pre-validated by a trustworthy partner.
Our startups have raised over €25M investments while being in the program or shortly after finishing it. In the eyes of the investors, our program is like a quality assurance stamp. So, take the shortcut to your investment through us.
4. Challenging and inspiring environment
Tehnopol Startup Incubator is the biggest business incubator in Estonia. Our program is practical and designed around the actual needs of the founders. We’ve been on the field the longest – 10+ years, and over time, we’ve had the honour of helping over 400 awesome startups build their businesses. And 98% of the founders in our programs would recommend it to others.
5. Exclusive events, valuable workshops and great people
We have 150+ events a year. We organize practical workshops with the best experts in the field, covering all the topics from business models and finances to product development and legal matters. One-on-one investor meetings, invitations to international tech events, alumni clubs, founders’ after-hours, and more! Work hard, play hard, right? The players in our team are badass, and empowering founders is our game-plan! So, founder, are you bold enough to take the ride and reach new heights?
Come by Tehnopol Startup Incubator demo area at Latitude59 and take the FOUNDER CHALLENGE. You’ll find yourself in another world, 80 stories high, on top of a skyscraper. Will you take a step further and risk falling? Or perhaps you’ll fly instead? Might be scary, but see for yourself if you have the courage, cold head, and persistency – all the features of a great founder. Adrenaline rush guaranteed.
