Bizstartup.ie - NewsWhy do a training programme?

“From a commonsense perspective it exposes you to all the different issues you need to think about when you start up, the vast majority of which most people don’t consider. For example, they may focus on getting finance and making their product, but not on marketing in the real sense or all of the small things that need to be done that can get forgotten, such as registering a company,” he says.

“Often people’s view of their business is exaggerated and going to a course brings reality into their thinking and adds to their list of items for consideration.”

Benefits of training

When you’re on a programme you’re mixing with people going through the same thing at the same time. Cooney feels this peer group interaction helps people to formulate ideas and identify shared challenges. “It reduces the loneliness of being a start-up.”

An important outcome from doing a course can be that you arrive at the end of the process deciding that there is no market for your idea at this time or setting up a business isn’t for you. “I would view this as a positive result. It’s better to have gone through the process and decide not to go ahead for valid reasons rather than starting a business and then failing.”

If you have the choice, Cooney advises doing a course as you’re going through your idea formulation and market opportunity analysis stage.