BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  P&L  >  9 Things That Kill Your Startup in Year 1

9 Things That Kill Your Startup in Year 1

Neil Cheong, Co-Founder, GUIDE, | Alvin Chin, Co-Founder, GUIDE

02-Dec-24 11:00

9 Things That Kill Your Startup in Year 1

The first year is often the most perilous for startups. From poor unit economics and co-founder challenges to struggles with product-market fit and resource management, countless hurdles can derail even the most promising ventures.

In this episode of P&L, Neil Cheong and Alvin Chin, Co-Founders of GUIDE, dive into the top 9 reasons startups fail in their first year. They share actionable insights to help entrepreneurs identify red flags, align co-founders, and optimise their resources.

Special Offer for BFM P&L Listeners!

Join the waitlist for the eLearning version of the GUIDE Founders Program, launching January 31, 2025, and get access to 30+ lessons and a comprehensive wiki on practical venture topics like developing a moat, creating an MVP, scaling enterprise value, and more!

Be among the first 150 to join the waitlist and enjoy 30% off using code BFMPNL. Learn more and sign up now at www.guide.works/founders-program.

In meantime, here are some key highlights from the conversation:

- Unit Economics: Why understanding and optimizing your business model is vital for survival.

- Co-Founder Dynamics: How to navigate relationship challenges and build a strong founding team.

- Product-Market Fit: Identifying alignment between your offering and customer needs.

- People Management: The importance of hiring effectively and navigating the difficult process of letting go of underperforming team members.

- Resource Allocation: Avoiding inefficiency in cash and time management.

- Go-to-Market Strategy: Common mistakes in execution and how to refine your approach.

- Clarity on Problem and Customer: Why a clear value proposition and knowing your ideal customer are critical.

- Lack of Personal Runway: Preparing financially to endure startup challenges without burning out.

- Speed and Decisiveness: Building a culture of quick and effective decision-making to maintain momentum.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  marketsmanagingentrepreneurspersonal development

Tags:  resource managementstartupsproduct-market fitstartup schoolStartup SentralStartup Central





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst, KCM Trade tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Christopher Wong, FX Strategist at OCBC Bank, shares his outlook on gold.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Economist Dr Geoffrey Williams unpacks the implications of rising oil prices on national cost management.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Wee Eng Kong, Managing Director of Tuju Setia talks about the finances of the company and construction projects they've won recently.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Dato’ Khairul Annuar Abdul Aziz, President of PDAM on how rising oil prices could hit consumers and petrol dealers.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Zaid Malek, Executive Director of Lawyers for Liberty, discusses free speech in civic and academic space.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst, KCM Trade tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Christopher Wong, FX Strategist at OCBC Bank, shares his outlook on gold.

9:35 AM

Pinnacle Perspectives

Soo Hoo Khoon Yean, Managing Partner of PwC Malaysia discusses how Malaysian CEOs are recalibrating strategies and managing risks amid global uncertainties.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

DS Willie Tan, Founder, Master Ee Reflexology

11:05 AM

From The Enterprise Archives

Kevin Brockland, Founder & Managing Partner, Indelible Ventures, Pang Chan Yip, Executive Director, Vertex Ventures

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

XP Ng, CEO, Academy of Artificial Intelligence

1:00 PM

Breakfast Grille (REPEAT)

Wee Eng Kong, Managing Director of Tuju Setia talks about the finances of the company and construction projects they've won recently.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Earth Matters

Malaysia has climate targets, but are they enough? We discuss a new report that estimates the country’s fair share carbon budget, and what it means for our emissions and policies.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

The Orang Asli communities cannot be viewed as a homogenous group. We hear about the unique health challenges of different indigenous communities in rural Perak.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Today I Learned

Why Malaysians Love Adibah Amin

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

A Bit of Culture

Kam Raslan, Dhanya Nair and debutant Steve Yong get together to talk about the return of old TV series, learning retro tech before using the modern ones, and online gaming communities.