Building a startup is one of the most exhilarating yet challenging journeys an entrepreneur can undertake. While we often hear stories of wildly successful ventures, the reality is that nearly 98% of startups don’t make it past the first five years. From market misalignment to cash flow struggles, a range of factors contribute to these failures. Whether you’re a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, understanding these common pitfalls can help you navigate around them and increase your chances of success. Read on to learn how to ensure your venture is one of the few that thrives in the competitive landscape of today’s startup ecosystem.

This post highlights the challenge of validating a startup idea on a tight budget. Traditional market research can be costly, but with a bit of creativity, entrepreneurs can use low-cost strategies to test demand and refine their concepts. The top five methods provide practical ways to gather feedback and gauge market interest without significant financial investment.