Early-Stage Intervention

1. How does the program help if my business “gets stuck” or if my idea is failing — will I be guided to pivot and how actionable is that feedback?

The 1Mby1M program is specifically designed to help entrepreneurs when their business gets stuck or if their idea is not gaining traction. This is a central part of the program’s methodology, and the guidance is known for being direct and actionable.

Here’s how the program helps you navigate these challenges:

1. Early-Stage Intervention

The program strongly encourages entrepreneurs to join as early as possible, often before they write a single line of code. The reasoning is that it’s far cheaper to pivot an idea on paper than it is to abandon a product you’ve already spent months and thousands of dollars building. By following the 1Mby1M methodology from the beginning, you can validate your idea and positioning to avoid major failures down the line.

2. Direct, Actionable Feedback

During the weekly mentoring roundtables, if your business is failing to gain traction, the founder, Sramana Mitra, will not just offer vague suggestions. The feedback is “laser-focused” and “action-oriented.” She will often ask pointed questions to help you pinpoint the exact problem. This might involve:

• Repositioning: Is your marketing message connecting with the right audience?
• Customer Segmentation: Are you targeting the right market segment?
• Go-to-Market Strategy: Is your plan for reaching customers flawed?

She helps you identify and fix these “holes” in your business model. The goal is to get you to a point where your business is not just an idea, but a validated, growing entity.

3. Guidance on Pivoting

If, after following the methodology and receiving feedback, your idea still gets negative responses from the market, the program’s guidance is clear: you need to abandon the idea and pivot. This isn’t seen as a failure but as a necessary part of the entrepreneurial process.

The program’s approach to pivoting is to:

• Document and Learn: You’re encouraged to analyze why the first idea failed so you can avoid repeating the same mistakes.
• Follow the Methodology Again: You would then use the 1Mby1M curriculum to validate your new idea, ensuring you are doing things in the right sequence and with a solid plan.

4. Avoiding Common Mistakes

Many startups fail because they’re “bleeding money” or making fundamental mistakes they’re not even aware of. The program’s resources and mentorship are designed to help you identify and fix these issues. This could be anything from poor customer retention to an ineffective pricing strategy. The program guides you to make small, high-impact changes that can turn a failing business into a growing one.

In summary, the 1Mby1M program is explicitly built to address the very real possibility of a business “getting stuck.” The feedback is highly actionable and is delivered in a structured way that helps you either fix a failing business or recognize when it’s time to pivot and start a new, more promising venture.