Mistakes that IT startups most often make

How to avoid the most common mistakes when launching an IT startup? We have gathered the opinions of experts who share their experience and important lessons for those who are just planning to start their journey in the tech business.

Tanya Plotnikova, city — Almaty, founder and CEO of pwron.ai, Instagram, LinkedIn

One of the biggest mistakes is outsourcing development. We fell into this trap, and we know that many others do too. Of course, it is difficult to find a great developer for the team, but if such an opportunity exists, it is always better than hiring an external team.

Timur Turatali, city — Bishkek, founder of AkylAI, Instagram

Lack of Product-Market Fit is one of the main reasons for startup failures. Many teams develop a product based on their own assumptions rather than real demand. However, without confirmed user need, even the most technologically advanced idea is doomed to fail. Before launching, it is important to validate hypotheses, test the MVP, and ensure that customers are not only interested in the product but also willing to pay for it.

Gulnaza Khalmanbetova, city — Bishkek, founder and CEO of Mama Space, Instagram

Building a product instead of a solution — when the team gets carried away with creating functionality without deeply analyzing real user needs. As a result, you end up with a beautiful but unnecessary product.

Fear of admitting failure — it is important to realize in time that the current strategy is not working and not be afraid to change course. Accepting "failure" is not a defeat, but an opportunity to save time, money, and effort to find a truly effective solution.

Mistakes in financial planning — incorrect budget estimation and lack of a safety cushion can quickly "sink" the project.

Startups often look at the successes of others and start copying their path, forgetting that everyone has a different context: resources, audience, time in the market. This can distract from the focus and lead to wrong decisions. It is better to concentrate on your own product, users, and metrics.

Daniyar Nazaraliyev, city — Almaty, investor, Instagram

Mistakes that IT startups make:

1. They do not possess IT skills themselves.
2. Poor management.
3. Lack of analytics in the niche where they launch the IT product.
4. Inability to create financial models.