ENTREPRENEURSHIP
We Ask the Entrepreneurs
Useful Apps for Transportation
What Is Your Advice for Successful Business Development? A Round-Up of Taxi-Booking Apps for Residents in MENA
Samer Tarazi, Founder & CEO at Redtroops
Adonis El Fakih, Founder and former CEO at Ayna Corporation
My advice to fellow entrepreneurs is to be relentless, as hearing “no!� is an inevitable part of the process. Gaining your first customers is the hardest step, especially in the MENA region, where we lack early adopters who are keen to try and experiment with new disruptive products. The only way to overcome this is to go the extra mile; customize your demos to cater for your potential clients and show them the entire process from A to Z. I also advise them not to do business the old fashioned way. There are many technologies out there today that can definitely help them save time and find target clients in a much more efficient manner.
We all understand that clients are the lifelines of a business, and in my experience actively engaged clients are an invaluable resource towards your success. Whether you are selling a new product or expanding into a new market, start by building a lean startup canvas to describe your solution, expectations, and success metrics. Identify partners and channels to test your hypothesis and to define minimum marketable product (MMP). Have an honest discussion about risks and address them and set realistic expectations. Work closely with your clients as partners and collaborate towards success.
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The QuarteRly Winter 2015