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Starting a Business: From Idea to Launch, be an Entrepreneur

Starting a business, specially going from idea to launch, can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also requires a lot of hard work and careful planning. If you’re ready to dip your toes in the water or take a plunge and start your own business, here’s a few steps you might want to follow!

Research About your Idea

Before investing time and money into your business idea, it’s important to do your research and validate it. This means checking if there is a market for your product or service, understanding your competitors, and identifying potential customers. Conducting market research will help you to determine the feasibility of your idea and make sure that there is demand for your product or service.

Create a Business Plan

Once you’ve validated your idea, you should create a business plan. This plan outlines your company’s goals, target market, products or services, financial projections, and marketing strategy. Having a solid business plan is important because it will help you stay focused and on track as you work towards launching your business. But don’t worry, you can always come back and change it up!

Secure Funding

Starting a business requires capital, and there are a few different ways to secure funding. You can use your own savings, take out a loan from a bank or other lender, or seek out investors. Whatever method you choose, make sure you have a solid financial plan in place to ensure that you can cover all of your expenses and, eventually, make some profit.

Register Your Business

Once you have figured out your funding, it’s time to register your business. This means choosing a business name and structure, obtaining any necessary licenses and permits, and registering your business with the appropriate government agencies.

Set Up Your Business Infrastructure

Now that your business is registered, it’s time to set up your infrastructure. This includes everything from creating a website and social media accounts to setting up your office or storefront. Make sure to also set up any necessary systems and processes, such as accounting and inventory management.

Launch

With all of the necessary steps completed, it’s time to launch your business! Make sure to promote your launch through various channels; for instance, social media and email marketing, to ensure that your target audience knows about your business.

Going from idea to launch and starting a business can be a rollercoaster of feelings, but the reward is worth it. By following these steps, you can go from idea to launch with confidence and set yourself up for success. Remember, it’s important to stay flexible and adapt as you go along, you can achieve your entrepreneurial dreams!

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Balancing Profit and Social Responsibility: Social Entrepreneurship

Itnig Spaces Coworking

The role of entrepreneurs and their responsibility towards creating a positive impact that goes beyond profit-making has it own spotlight. ‘Social entrepreneurship’ is now a trend that focuses on the idea of using business strategies to solve social problems. As entrepreneurs, it is important to achieve a balance between making a profit and fulfilling social responsibilities. While making a profit is essential for the survival and growth of a business, it should not come at the cost of leaving behind ethical and moral obligations.

Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is a critical aspect of any business. This includes being responsible for the impact of their business operations on the environment, consumers, employees, and other stakeholders. Socially responsible businesses prioritize the well-being of the society over making a profit. This can be achieved through initiatives such as environmental sustainability, ethical labor practices, among others. According to Cone Communications, 91% of global consumers expect companies to act responsibly, and 84% would switch to a brand that supports a social cause. This proves the importance of social responsibility in business operations where neglecting it could potentially be of harm. While making a profit is a goal of any business, it is important to do it in an ethical and moral way. Unethical practices such as fraud, exploitation, and unfair competition not only harm the parties involved but can also backfire causing damage to the business’ reputation. 

Social Entrepreneurship

It is a business model that prioritizes social impact over profit-making. Social entrepreneurs use innovative strategies to address social problems such as poverty, environmental degradation, and inequality. This business model is gaining popularity; according to a report by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 23% of entrepreneurs worldwide have a social mission. Social entrepreneurship offers several benefits like the creation of a positive social impact and the ability to differentiate the business from competitors. However, it is important to note that social entrepreneurship is not a replacement for traditional entrepreneurship. In fact, the two can work together to achieve sustainable development goals. 

Consider Social Entrepreneurship as a viable business model and create a sustainable business that benefits both society and the economy!

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Social Media for Startups: Leveraging Platforms for Growth

As the world moves into the digital age, so do new generations of professionals. Social media has become an essential tool for businesses to reach and engage with their targeted audience. Social media for startups is even more crucial as they are constantly trying to establish their presence in the market of their choice and grow their customer base. Leveraging this platforms for growth can seem as a tough task but dip your toes in some social media platforms keeping this in mind!

Identify Your Target Audience

Before you start posting on social media, you need to identify your target audience. Who are they, and what are their interests and pain points? Get to know your clients and what they want, are willing to have and what they will not take. Knowing your audience will help you create content that resonates with them and drives engagement.

Choose the Right Platforms

Not all social media platforms are created equal. Each platform has its unique features, user base, and demographics. It’s crucial to choose the platforms that your target audience is most active on. For instance LinkedIn and Instagram are both platforms but have very different customers. If you are looking for professionals or experts in your industry, the right choice would be LinkedIn. 

Create a Content Strategy

Your social media content should align with your brand. A content strategy helps you plan, create, and distribute content that resonates with your audience and drives engagement. Your content could be a mix of promotional and educational posts, as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses of your startup’s culture and personality. Always think about who you are as a brand and what you want people to see and think about when they see you. 

Engage with Your Audience

Social media is a two-way conversation, and engaging with your audience is essential for building a loyal following. Respond to comments and messages promptly, ask for feedback, and create opportunities for user-generated content. When your audience feels heard and valued, they’re more likely to become loyal customers and advocates.

Measure and Adjust

To know if your social media strategy is working, you need to measure your performance regularly. Use analytics tools to track your reach, engagement, and conversion rates. Use this data to adjust your strategy and optimize your content for maximum impact. It is important to know that strategies are not always perfect and tweaking it around is completely fine! Not everyone gets it on the first try.

Social media is a powerful tool for startups to reach and engage with their target customers. By identifying your audience, choosing the right platforms, creating a content strategy, engaging with your audience, and measuring your performance, you can leverage social media to achieve your growth goals. Even if it  is not a one-size-fits-all approach, feel free to experiment and adjust your strategy based on what works for you and your business.

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Successful Spanish companies that were once startups

If you’re an entrepreneur or aspiring business owner, starting a successful startup can seem like a daunting task. However, many famous and successful Spanish companies started as small startups with limited resources and grew to become household names. These companies prove that with hard work, dedication, and a bit of creativity, anyone can build a successful business from the ground up. Take a look at some of the most successful Spanish companies that started as startups, and explore how they managed to become successful, in the hopes of inspiring and encouraging you to follow in their footsteps.

PDPAOLA

PDPAOLA is a dream come true for siblings Humberto and Paola. They created the company back in 2014 in Barcelona. PDPAOLA is a contemporary jewelry brand, characterized by its delicate designs, minimalist aesthetic, and use of high-quality materials such as sterling silver and 18K gold vermeil. PDPAOLA draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including art, architecture, and nature, and its collections feature a range of styles from classic to trend-driven. It is the perfect dose of affordable luxury. 

NudeProject

Friends Alex and Bruno created a viral clothing company that is now a lifestyle. They create ready-to-wear clothing and have gained a huge following as being a way of life. They have a perfect mixture of creativeness, comfort, minimalism and elegance making incredible clothing for both men and women. It has been growing as a community since they have created a space of being authentic with no judgment. “By artists, For artists”. Be whoever you can be with them!

Get to know more about them, checkout our podcast where they were guests!

Factorial

This HR company is one of the startups to watch out for in 2023. The company offers an HR software that allows to optimize and digitalize every process in just one app. Perfect for CEO’s and HHRR managers who want to improve their efficiency. It is the perfect software for big and small companies looking to improve in every possible area. Additionally they are located in the 22@ district in the city at Itnig Spaces. Straight out of Barcelona and still based there, Factorial is growing more than ever! 

La Manso

A contemporary jewelry brand based in Barcelona, Spain, founded by Adriana Manso in 2017. The brand has quickly gained recognition for its avant-garde and unconventional designs, inspired by art and everyday objects. La Manso uses sustainable materials and production processes, such as recycled metals and environmentally friendly packaging. Its bold and colorful pieces have been worn by celebrities like Billie Eilish and Rosalía, and have been featured in publications such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. La Manso also collaborates with artists and designers to create limited edition collections. With a focus on creativity, sustainability, and inclusivity, La Manso is pushing the boundaries of traditional jewelry design.

Heura

Heura is a Spanish plant-based food company that offers vegan meat alternatives made from soybeans. Their products are sustainable, healthy, high in protein and fiber, and free from artificial colors, preservatives, and GMOs. Heura’s range includes chicken-style pieces, burgers, and meatballs, as well as sauces and seasonings. They have gained a loyal following and received awards for their innovative approach to plant-based food. It is committed to sustainability and uses renewable energy in its production process.

Get to know more about them checkout our podcast where they were guests!

Hawkers

A Spanish eyewear brand that offers high-quality, stylish sunglasses and prescription glasses at an affordable price. The brand was founded in 2013 by a group of four young entrepreneurs, and quickly gained popularity for its trendy designs and accessible price points. Hawkers has since expanded to offer a wide range of sunglasses styles, including classic aviators, bold oversized frames, and retro round shapes. In addition to its original line of sunglasses, the brand has collaborated with a number of celebrities like Pierre Gasly to create limited edition collections. Hawkers is known for its commitment to sustainability, using recycled materials in its packaging and working with factories that meet ethical labor standards. The brand has a strong social media presence and has leveraged influencer marketing to grow its following. Today, Hawkers has a global reach and is considered one of the most successful eyewear brands in the world.

Get to know more about them checkout our podcast where they were guests!

Starting is the hardest part. At Itnig we aim to push you to thrive and reach your goals. We give you all the tools so you grow in our vibrant community of startups driven by technology and fueled by creativity.

Join us!

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Networking through coworking as an entrepreneur at Itnig Spaces

networking at Itnig Spaces

An entrepreneur’s biggest asset is it’s network. (Cote, C. 2022). The challenge is having solid and valuable network to help you and your business grow. Networking involves building connections with people who can offer great support, advice, and in some cases, resources. It also includes nurturing these mutually beneficial relationships with potential customers, investors, collaborators, partners, etc. Even if there are multiple ways to network, our favorite is networking through coworking as an entrepreneur.

In the latest years there has been an increase in popularity for the coworking spaces in Spain. Itnig Spaces is a coworking office located in the 22@ district in the city of Barcelona that was born in 2012 and has been growing since then. The company is eager to create a vibrant community empowering entrepreneurs to focus on and achieving their goals. Creating a community ultimately opens networking through coworking to entrepreneurs and startups that are part of Itnig!

Through coworking, entrepreneurs can connect with like-minded individuals who share their goals and ambitions, as well as those who possess complementary skills and expertise. This can lead to valuable collaborations and partnerships that can help entrepreneurs grow their businesses more quickly and effectively. We cannot lie, entrepreneurship can be a challenging journey, and having a network of peers and mentors to lean on can make all the difference. At Itnig we provide the spaces and plans for you to grow as an entrepreneur at the same time as meeting new people.

Networking had never been easier than it is at Itnig Spaces.