Launching a startup is one thing. To actually get it humming, and making strong momentum, it often takes two years of serious, full-time effort. Here’s how I’ve seen it play out in the past:
- First Three Months – Assemble the team and build the minimum viable product
- Next Three Months – Launch the minimum respectable product
- Next Six Months – Sign the first 10 paying customers and tighten the product/market fit
- Next Six Months – Focus in on building the customer acquisition machine while refining the product
- Last Six Months – Continue tweaking the sales and marketing mix using objective data about what’s working and sign a critical mass of customers
Startups aren’t overnight successes. Often, two years is the magic mark for startups to start humming, assuming they found a strong market with solid timing.
What else? What are your thoughts on it taking two years for a startup to start humming?
David Cummings on Startups 
Doesn’t sound quite so daunting in a bulleted!
Your thoughts are spot on! I think building momentum is important for any startup….but patience is the key. I think too many of us become too emotionally attached to an idea or concept. We then let the roller coaster ride affect our whole lives. Two years seems like a long time but when you have your nose to the grind stone it will fly by.
So true! You cant build a business overnight, but you have to work through the night to build a business.
Great insights! That is definitely a good starting point! I have seen many business concepts go through the same process! Most people get too impatient stick with the business concept they have come up with!