Getting a startup company off the ground can be a uniquely nerve-wracking experience. When you are in charge of a startup company, you have many responsibilities to your partners and investors. Making sure that your company builds strength in the early stages can go a long way toward ensuring your future success.

Business expert, Marc Zboch, discusses the eight types of goals that every startup should meet before launching.

1. Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

The creation of your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) should be your startup’s first goal. The earlier your startup can achieve this; you will be able to get timely and accurate feedback to optimize it further.

Functionality, design, and operations should be your three priorities at this stage. All three may be a bit rough, but if you launch and test your product, the users’ feedback will help you learn which direction you should move in.

2. Beta Launch

Your next goal should be your private beta launch. Don’t forget this important goal. The beta MVP launch will help you build your core testing group, secure additional testing, and help you get feedback in the stages to come.

3. Key Hires

To turn your startup idea into a flourishing company, Marc Zboch reminds you that you will need to make some key hires. It is important to find people who are as enthusiastic about your idea is you are. Even better, find someone who is passionate about your idea. It is reasonable to outsource the first stage of your product development and get it through testing, but after this, make sure that you have a solid team of professionals on your side. If you don’t have your own hires, you should look for professional development teams.

4. Optimizing Your Product

Periods of redesign, feedback, and reconstruction are natural parts of this stage. Your product will be in a constant cycle of growth. You should accept up front that your product is not perfect and never will be, but that you should spend time getting it as close to perfect as you can. Each stage will answer lingering questions and bring your product added functionality.

5. Public Beta Launch

A good target date for your public beta launch is approximately six months after you start your business. The main thing to keep in mind is that your product will always be in a state of development. When you do a public beta launch, you will receive feedback from real users. This will help you understand what the pain points are. This process may differ from the vision you put into your initial idea.

6. Major Milestone

About a year after founding your startup, you should consider how your product could be optimized. It is a good idea to set a goal or milestone that could be achieved at about this time. This could be a goal for the number of users, downloads, clicks, or revenue. When your metrics have been proven, it becomes time to raise funding.

7. First Investment Round

Often, the initial startup investments are made by a founder or an angel investor. At this stage, it is time to open up your funding possibilities by offering your idea to external shareholders. You can also search for new shareholders. Make sure that all of your documents and data are accurate, including current use and future projections.

Startup investors want to see the opportunity for these companies in the market. They want to see the demand for these products, and they want to see where they can benefit from the company. If you can show your potential investors how you will meet their needs, you may be able to secure generous funding for your startup.

8. Securing Your Idea

Startup business goals are variable. This means that you have to be careful about defining which goals are meaningful and which are not. Milestones that pass by mean moving to higher risk levels. Achieving certain milestones may make your company more attractive to future investors.

Difficulties You May Encounter

Take fundraising challenges into consideration. In certain countries, funding comes primarily from individuals. In other countries, corporate investors are more common. To raise the largest amount of money, site your startup in a country where the prevailing form of investment matches up with your goals.

If you have realized that you can’t raise the appropriate amount of money, you might have to decide what you can do with less. Investors may be attracted to startups that appropriate “lean” methods when running their companies. Cutting waste and streamlining operations are two important attributes of the “lean” company.

Making Your Startup Work

These eight types of goals can help you bring your startup from an idea to a fully functioning company. Following this basic blueprint will help you decide on your priorities and how you should manage your money. Investor relations become extremely important in the later stage of startup development, and business owners should find knowledgeable mentors for support. Marc Zboch understands how to assemble a startup company and how to make it profitable. These eight goals will make it easier for your company to achieve success.