Fundraising

Tips for Startups to Survive and Thrive During a Recession

Written by

Lotte Geldermans

Published on

November 17, 2022
All Posts

Times are tough for startups right now. The global recession has taken its toll, and it can be difficult to get your business off the ground when money is tight and opportunities are scarce.

But don't give up! There is still hope.

In this article, we'll provide a few tips for young startups to help them survive and even thrive during these difficult times. Follow these guidelines, and you'll be on your way to success.

How the Current Recession Is Affecting Startups

You're a startup founder. You're ambitious. You want to grow and scale your business, but you're worried. Worried about the current recession and how it's affecting your business.

You're not alone. Every business is feeling the pinch right now but that doesn't mean you can't survive and thrive during this tough time. You just need to be smart about it.

Here are some tips for startups to survive and thrive during a recession:

  1. Don’t panic. This is probably the most important thing you can do right now. Panicking will only cloud your judgment and make it difficult to make sound decisions.
  2. Focus on efficiency. Cut costs where you can, but don’t sacrifice quality. Make sure you’re getting the most out of your team and your resources.
  3. Diversify your revenue stream. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Make sure you have other sources of revenue that aren't dependent on the economy.
  4. Network, network, network. This is especially important in a recession, when opportunities are few and far between. Get out there and meet people, build relationships, and see what opportunities come up.
  5. Keep your eye on the prize. Remember why you started your business in the first place and stay focused on your goals. Don't let the recession get in the way of your dreams and aspirations.

Tips for Cutting Costs and Maximizing Efficiency

Being a startup founder during a recession is probably not the easiest title to hold especially when it is scary out there. But you're not going to let that stop you.

The action plan is simple: cut costs, get creative, and work smarter. Here are some tips for you to get started:

  1. Evaluate your expenses and see where you can cut back. Maybe you don't need that fancy office space or the newest computers.
  2. Streamline your processes and make sure everyone on your team is working as efficiently as possible.
  3. Take advantage of free or discounted resources available to startups, like web hosting, software, and business courses.
  4. Get involved in your local startup community and learn from others who have been through this before.

Try these steps, you will definitely come out stronger. 

How to Raise Funding During a Recession?

Were you able to bootstrap your startup and have managed to maintain steady growth? Congratulations! But the question is how can you sustain the same progress during this wild recession?

One option is to look for funding from investors. But this can be tricky, since investors are hesitant to put money into anything that doesn't have a solid track record. So what do you do?

Showing your potential investors that your business has the ultimate tenacity to thrive, and that you have the plan to level it up, will do the trick.

And don't forget—you need to be prepared for questions about how you're going to handle the recession. Investors want to know that you have a plan for dealing with tough times. 

How to Adapt Your Business Model to a Recession?

It's no secret that times are tough right now. The recession has hit businesses of all sizes, and it's forced many startups to adapt their business models in order to stay afloat.

So how can you make your startup more recession-friendly? Here are a few tips to get you started:

  1. Cut costs and become more efficient: This is probably the most obvious one. When times are tough, you need to be ruthless about trimming the fat from your business. streamline your processes, reduce your overhead costs, and get rid of anything that's not essential.
  2. Focus on your core strengths: don't try to do too many things at once. Figure out what you're good at, and focus on doing those things well. Trying to be all things to all people is a recipe for disaster in a recession.
  3. Diversify your revenue streams: don't put all your eggs in one basket. If you can find ways to generate revenue from multiple sources, it'll help cushion the blow if one of those sources dries up.
  4. Adapt your business model: If your current business model isn't working, change it! There's no shame in admitting that you need to pivot in order to survive. Just make sure you do it quickly and gracefully, so you don't alienate your customers or employees.

As a startup, you need to be resourceful when times are tough. You have to think outside the box and be creative with the limited resources you have.

There are plenty of resources available to help you get through this tough period. Here are a few that we recommend:

  1. Network with other startups: There's strength in numbers, and the more people you talk to, the more ideas you'll get.
  2. Lean on your mentors and advisors: They've been through this before and they can offer invaluable advice.
  3. Stay positive: It can be tough, but don't give up - remember, things will get better.

Many startups are finding themselves in the same boat, and with a little bit of creativity and perseverance, you can make it through these tough times and come out even stronger on the other side.

Is your startup also a disruptive venture? Sign up now with Pitchdrive!

We're always looking for new partners and investment possibilities:

🌱 Pre-seed and seed stage (ticket size 200k-500k)
🏎 Highly product and scale driven
🇪🇺 European focussed
🕸 Industry agnostic

Apply Now

Share this post

Read more

Ready to kick-start your own fundraising journey?

Or want to know more about pre-seed funding?