Filo is a StartUp dedicated to the realization of IoT devices that using the Bluetooth technology trace objects and help peoples to not lose or forget the things that they care of. Key products of the company are Filo Tags, the devices that trace essential objects such as home keys or a bag and Tata Pad, the tech pillow that monitor the activities and movement of a baby.
Lapo Ceccherelli brought his experience and shared his entrepreneurial journey, telling us more about their product startup and the different phases they faced during the development stage.
A startup entrepreneur and designer from Ferrara, based in Rome since 10 years. He’s the founder and creative director at Filo, Professor at IED – Istituto Europeo di Design – and design consultant. He spends most of his workweek at Pi Campus, a beautiful green-banked startup district at EUR, Rome.
Passionate about innovation, he likes design in the service of innovation. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.
Start with a Great Idea. Your first step in learning how to start a business is to identify a problem and a possible solution. This is because successful start-ups begin from business ideas that fill the needs of a group of customers. But your idea doesn’t always have to be a new one. You can update existing products or services in a way that’s better for the consumer.
Make a Business Plan. Once you have an idea, you’ll want to start building a business plan that describes your products and services in detail. It should include information on your industry, operations, finances and a market analysis.
Secure Funding for Your Startup. The cost of a startup is different for every business owner. However, no matter what your costs are, you’ll likely need to get startup financing. It can be from friends and family, angel investors, venture capitalists, bank loans and many more.
Surround Yourself with the Right People. There can be a lot of risk in starting a business. That’s why you’ll need essential business advisors to help guide you along the way.
Make Sure You’re Following All the Legal Steps. From designing your product to setting up your workplace, opening your dream startup can be a lot of fun. But before you officially enter the market, you’ll want to take the right legal steps to give you the best chance at success.
Establish a Location (Physical and Online). Set up an office space or open a storefront, you’ll want to determine if leasing or buying a property is right for you. In many cases, you can get tax deductions for managing a commercial space, which is a benefit to owning your own place. You’ll also be able to rent it out to make extra income.
Develop a Marketing Plan. Every startup needs to spend different amounts of money and time on marketing. It’s an important expense, because it helps you:
Build a Customer Base. In order for your startup business to have long-term success, you’ll want to build a customer base. These loyal customers can help with: boosting your sales, because they’re willing to keep spending at your company, sending a message to new customers that your brand is trustworthy, gaining referrals, which saves you time and effort with finding new customers.
Plan to Change. Startups change drastically within their first few years in operation. A key to success is to evolve and adapt your business model to your market and industry.
