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Startup Support: 9 Ways Tech Consultancies Help New Ventures Succeed

Specno
February 21, 2024

From tech support to strategic business development, getting funding, and going to market – this is how tech consultancies provide startup support for your venture

Who can support you on your startup journey?

No startup makes it alone – it takes an ecosystem of various players to help startups successfully develop and thrive. In other words: startup support.

This is where tech consultancies come in. See, when you first start up, you won’t be able to afford just hiring all the skills and experience you need to make it big. You will have to rely on consultants with specific networks and domain knowledge to help you along. Learn why your business needs a digital consultant.

Here’s what you need to know about startup support.

9 Elements of Startup Support

Key areas where your startup will need guidance and expertise from tech consultancies.

1. Technical Development and IT Support

Every new venture needs a measure of tailored software. Be it a new app and some web development, e-commerce, or just the basics like cloud computing, IT strategy, automation, systems integration, and ongoing support and maintenance. In fact, just something as simple as your website and marketing channels can become quite complex.

You need robust online presences and software that delivers a world-class experience from day one, that can also scale as you grow. Yet one common problem is that startups don’t have the internal team to pull it all off just yet – see how long it takes to build your startup team.

Who provides the service?

A 5-star software development agency like Specno, of course.

The Specno advantage

We at Specno are the highest-rated software developer in Southern Africa. And for good reason: we were in the startup world, and we’ve helped over 100 startups grow very successfully with tailored solutions like concept validation, UX/UI design, app development, web app development, cost-effective low-code development, and venture development.

2. Strategic Planning and Business Development

Strategic planning helps startups define their vision, goals, and direction, while business development helps you position yourself in the market and gain a competitive edge over competitors. In the long term, your strategy helps you define how you will scale, grow, and allocate resources to get there, which is what will determine whether you’ll attract investment or not.

Who provides the service?

Business consultants, strategic planning firms, management consultancies, and financial advisory services.

How Specno helps

While we don’t do this as a service, Specno is part of the startup ecosystem, and thus our concept validation service includes vital information that informs your strategy, including your go-to-market strategy, your growth plan, etc. – see all about idea validation.

Find creative ways to pay for your big innovation projects with these unique venture funding models and learn how to do customer journey mapping to anticipate needs.

3. Market Analysis and Research

This is crucial for insights into customer preferences and market trends, so you can identify opportunities and challenges, guiding informed decision-making in product development and marketing strategies – not to mention helping startups avoid costly missteps and establishing a foundation for sustainable growth and competitiveness.

To fully understand the power of omnichannel, see our retail POS integration case studies.

Who provides the service?

Market research firms, marketing consultancies, and data analytics companies.

How Specno helps

Again, we’re not a research agency, but our concept validation service includes a large part of your market and customer analysis, so it adds greatly to helping your business be more competitive.

4. Product Design and User Experience

Since 90% of users decide to stay or delete a product, user experience is key for attracting and retaining customers. An intuitive and enjoyable user experience can set a startup's product apart in competitive markets and help you meet market needs and adapt to user feedback – vital for long-term success.

Who provides the service?

A highly rated and trusted software design agency  like Specno, of course.

The Specno advantage

We’ve built an incredibly energised and capable team of specialists, including UX/UI design that has helped empower over 100 startups – see our breakdown of the app design process.

5. Funding and Financial Advisory

Securing adequate funding and managing finances are pivotal for a startup's growth and stability. Funding and financial advisory services assist startups in identifying and accessing various funding sources such as venture capital, angel investors, or crowdfunding. They also guide you on financial planning, budgeting, and cash flow management, ensuring startups make prudent financial decisions and maintain fiscal health.

Who provides the service?

Venture capital firms, angel investors, crowdfunding platforms, financial planning consultancies.

How Specno helps

Apart from the market- and competitor analysis, go-to-market- and growth strategy documents we provide you with during idea validation that go straight into your pitch deck, Specno also has a network of over 200 investors we’ve worked with, and we connect founders with funders all the time through initiatives like our Founders Den.

For 7+ creative ways to pay for your big innovation projects, see these unique venture funding models.

6. Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

Navigating the complex landscape of legal and regulatory compliance is crucial for startups to avoid penalties and maintain their reputation. Regulatory compliance and risk management services ensure that startups adhere to industry-specific regulations, data protection laws, and other legal requirements. These services also help in identifying potential risks to the business and developing strategies to mitigate them, thus safeguarding the startup's long-term viability.

Who provides the service?

Legal consultancies, compliance specialists, and risk management firms.

How Specno helps

Again, we don’t offer this service but have an extensive network in the startup space, so we can make introductions and recommendations. We also support you in implementing compliance-friendly technology solutions and ensuring data security and privacy standards.

7. Marketing and Branding

Effective marketing and branding are essential for startups to establish a strong market presence and connect with their target audience. Marketing and branding services help in developing a cohesive brand identity, creating compelling marketing campaigns, and utilizing digital platforms for outreach. This support is key to attracting customers, building brand loyalty, and differentiating the startup from its competitors.

Who provides the service?

Marketing agencies, branding consultancies, digital marketing specialists, and public relations firms.

How Specno helps

Though we are not a marketing agency, we can again make introductions. And we will always assist you with high-performance digital marketing strategies, developing your online presence, and leveraging technology for brand enhancement.

8. Networking and Partnerships

Building a strong network and forming strategic partnerships can accelerate a startup's growth and open up new opportunities. Networking and partnership services provide access to industry events, mentorship programs, and collaboration opportunities. These connections can lead to valuable collaborations, increased visibility, and access to resources or expertise that the startup may not have internally.

Who provides the service?

Business networking groups, industry associations, mentorship programs, and partnership brokers.

How Specno helps

We’re highly active and known in the startup space – our management and various teams are all very active in startup ecosystem development, so we can help get you access to networking opportunities, industry events, and facilitating partnerships.

9. Talent Acquisition and Training

Attracting and retaining the right talent is essential for a startup's success. Talent acquisition and training services help startups recruit skilled professionals and provide them with the necessary training and development. This ensures the startup has a competent and effective team, capable of driving innovation and growth. It also helps in building a strong organizational culture and enhancing employee satisfaction and productivity.

Who provides the service?

Startup recruitment agencies and solutions, talent consultancies, professional training and development firms.

How Specno helps

Though not our area of expertise, we are a scaled startup that’s built a large team of tech experts. So we can definitely help you source tech talent, provide technical training, and advise you on building effective teams.

Ventures we’ve helped grow

For some real-world case studies where we’ve helped companies become more competitive and grow, check out our software development case studies.

Some highlights include

  • MVP and various stages of building, as well as technical advice, support and tech team development for EdTech startup FinMeUp.
  • Onboarding and drop-off resolution for SaaS company Servcraft and the ServCraft App‍.
  • Correct user targeting for online ticketing platform Quicket.
  • Improve satisfaction, decrease churn, and boost conversions for PEP’s PAXI service.

Want to grow your startup?

Let’s help you do it right…

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Specno Team