Scipreneurs/7-day-intro/3 - find out what do you need

<p>I am extremely happy you are still engaged with this series of e-mails. I know it is tough to maintain the focus with so many things happening around. </p> <p>After this e-mail, you'll be almost half-way with the crash course! So bear with me just a little longer. </p> <p>We have focused on your reasons to become an entrepreneur and how are you going to deliver your idea to the world. </p> <p>Today, I want you to start thinking about <strong>what you need to get off the ground</strong>. </p> <p>Some weeks ago, I had a chat with a former colleague, a professor at the university, who told me: <strong>if I had a million dollars</strong> (or euros), I could turn this idea into a great product. </p> <p>Sometimes we get fixated with big amounts of money. It may be because we see how much money startups are raising, 20 million for a quantum computing company, 100 million for a biotech. </p> <p>However, <strong>no one started with multi-million amounts since day one</strong>. </p> <p>Understanding what you need is a very challenging task, especially because it is surrounded with uncertainty. But it is OK to be speculative at this stage. After all, this is just a crash-course. </p> <p>Let's imagine yesterday you decided you wanted to build <em>a physical product</em>. It is extremely tempting to think that what you need is enough money to build a prototype and try to sell it. Or you have developed a <em>new synthesis</em> protocol and want to start selling a new molecule. </p> <p>But building and selling a product requires much more than just buying its components, or just repeating the protocol in the lab. </p> <p>The first step is imagining the context where you are going to be producing your solution. Do you need a lab, a workshop, or perhaps an office? Would the famous <em>garage</em> in your parents house be enough to get started? </p> <p>Think about the materials that you need, specialized components, measuring instruments. </p> <p>Also think about how are you going to reach to your customers. Are they close by? Will you meet them in a conference? Will they come to see your product? </p> <p>You can think about this as a wish list of things you want. </p> <p>Have you added your own salary to the list? You may or may not need money, but you definitely need <em>time</em>. </p> <p>If you are like me, you won't be satisfied with a list of things you need. You will want to add a price to them. Go ahead! </p> <p>How much money do you think you need to get started? I am curious to see what number you came up with. </p> <p>I'm excited about tomorrow's topic. We are going to focus on a crucial skill you'll need to develop to be a successful entrepreneur.</p>