Should You Start a Startup?

Everything you need to know about starting a startup to make an informed decision. Learn from 3x founders with successful exits and a $2B unicorn.

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Course Overview

Deciding whether to start a startup is a pivotal decision many founders struggle with before they finally take the leap. Timing, idea, life circumstances and commitment all play big factors. How do you make this decision, and what can you expect if you decide to start a startup?

This course covers everything you need to know about starting a startup, including practical steps to prepare you to make the transition. Explore who should (and who shouldn't) venture into startups, evaluate your own readiness, learn how to generate good startup ideas, and gain insight into what you can expect from your first year as a startup founder.

By the end of the course, you'll have the information you need to decide if and when you should start a startup.

*Upcoming Program Dates*: 26 August to 6 September 2024

Learn from Successful Founders

This course was created by experienced founders turned investors: Brian Ma and Hsu Ken Ooi have started 3 companies (Decide, Weave, Divvy Homes), raised over $700M from renowned investors (a16z, GIC, Tiger Global, Index Ventures, etc), sold 2 of their companies and built 1 to unicorn status ($2B valuation).

Drawing from their own entrepreneurial journeys, Brian and Hsu Ken have also amassed invaluable experience engaging with thousands of startups as Managing Partners of Iterative, a YC-style program tailored for Southeast Asia.

Sign up for this free course to join over 3,000 aspiring, early stage and seasoned founders who turn to Iterative for expert guidance in building their startups.

Key Takeaways

Essential reasons and factors to start or not start a startup

Common traits in successful founders and how to cultivate them

Insights about solo founders and co-founders to assess what is right for you

Common misconceptions that prevent people from starting a startup

What to expect and focus on during the first 3 months of to set yourself up for success

A practical list of steps to take before launching your startup, to ensure you’re fully prepared

Who Is This For

• Aspiring Founders You are interested in starting a startup, but don't know how to get started. This course will provide expert guidance on taking the first steps to get you started.
• New Founders You’ve recently committed to your startup full-time but need clarity on whether you’re focusing on the right areas. Gain structure and actionable insights to build your startup effectively.
• Students and New Graduates You are a full-time student or new graduate interested in learning about startups. This course will offer practical knowledge and advice to help you understand the startup landscape.
• Tech Professionals You are a tech professional considering launching your own startup. Discover the first steps to navigating the startup journey on your own.

What Founders Are Saying About Us

“Relevant, filled with insights and concise.”

“I would recommend Iterative to other founders for its helpful guidance and support.”

“Thank you for this wonderful session. The most thing that I need for my startup journey is the advice from people who walk this path before.”

“It was helpful and cleared my questions and anxieties.”

“I wish we knew Iterative sooner so that we would not waste so much time figuring out things on our own.”

“Very useful and learned lots!”

“Loved the specificity of Hsu Ken's feedback, especially when he gives examples to drive home the point he's making.”

“I came in with very high expectation and you delivered.”

Meet the Creators

Brian Ma Co-founder and Managing Partner, Iterative

Iterative is a Y Combinator-style accelerator focused exclusively on Southeast Asia.

Previously, Brian was co-founder and CEO of Divvy Homes ($2B), which raised over $700M in funding (a16z, GIC, Tiger Global). He was co-founder of Decide.com, which raised over $16M total funding and was acquired by eBay in 2013. He was co-founder of Weave (YCS13).

@zealoustiger

Hsu Ken Ooi Co-founder and Managing Partner, Iterative

Iterative is a Y Combinator-style accelerator focused exclusively on Southeast Asia.

Previously, Hsu Ken was co-founder of Decide.com, which raised over $16M total funding and was acquired by eBay in 2013. He was formerly VP of Product at Weave (YCS13). He was also Chief Product Officer at Workmate, which raised over $10M total funding.

@hsukenooi

This Course Includes

Course Content

Review the materials at your own pace throughout the week. We estimate a commitment of just 1-2 hours per week.

Live Office Hours with Hsu Ken will take place on each Thursday, 29th August and 5th September. This is your chance to ask questions, discuss the materials, and gain deeper insights.

Week 1: 26-30 August

Module 1: Why You Should or Should Not Start a Startup People start startups for many different reasons. Explore factors influencing the decision to start a startup, including timing, readiness, personal motivations, and risk tolerance.

Module 2: Common Misconceptions Keeping You From Starting a Startup Often people don’t start a startup because of a misconception. We discuss what those misconceptions are, explain why they are false and what to do to get over them.

Module 3: Are You The Right Type of Person to Start a Startup? Is there a type of person that should or should not start a startup? We discuss traits commonly found in startup founders, whether they are innate, and how to develop them if you don't possess them naturally.

Week 2: 2-6 September

Module 4: Do I Need a Co-Founder? It’s a common belief that you shouldn’t start a company without co-founders and investors don’t like funding companies with a solo founder. But is it actually true? Learn about both experiences, what we recommend and what you can do about it.

Module 5: Founder Stories Learn from the stories of various founders of diverse and varying backgrounds. Gain new perspective and insights to understand different paths and challenges in the startup journey.

Module 6: What You Should Do Before You Start a Startup There’s nothing that will fully prepare you for becoming a founder (that’s part of the fun!). But there are things you can do that will help you prepare for the journey. Explore practical advice on how to prepare, what to expect in the the first 3 months, and some final words of advice.

Decide Your Future Today

Start your startup journey with confidence. Created by experienced founders, and it's completely free.

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FAQs

Iterative is a YC-style accelerator focused exclusively on Southeast Asia. Iterative invests up to US500K in a batch of startups twice a year. The investment includes 3-months of targeted growth and fundraising support, which culminates in a Demo Day to a network of 400+ investors.

Iterative’s portfolio companies have raised $168 million in follow-on funding and are collectively worth more than $1.2 billion. Iterative companies include: fintech startup Spenmo (W21) that closed an $85M Series B round led by Tiger Global; travel startup GoZayaan (W21) which closed $8M in capital and acquired it’s counterpart in Pakistan; proptech startup Propseller (S20) which raised $12M Series A; Sendhelper (S20), a home services startup acquired by PropertyGuru.