A Creative Startup Is Still A Business: 3 Things to Keep in Mind

Hey Hackers! We tend to think of TV shows, movies, and video games as pieces of art. They are, but people tend to forget that the creative, entertainment business is still a business. It still needs money to keep things running, it still needs to turn a profit, etc. And that’s something that young, up-and-coming creative startups usually forget. If you’re the founder of a creative startup, here are 3 things you should always keep in mind. 1. Your creative vision needs a business strategy—and vice versa. A strong creative vision gives your startup direction, but a business strategy is what helps turn that vision into reality. Don’t just bank on the fact that you love the project, so you assume that others will too. Try to create a business strategy to go along with that creative vision. Who’s your target audience? How will you reach them? What makes your project stand out? These are questions that need to be asked and answered. The same, however, is true in reverse. A business strategy without a compelling creative vision won’t take you far. You have ideas, you have a creative mind, you know how to turn a boring business strategy into something that has a soul and personality. Use that to your advantage. 2. Your first project is a starting point, not the finish line. If you’re a creative startup, then it’s likely that your budget is very limited. A limited budget means limited options. However, don’t make the mistake of putting all your eggs into one option, one project. It’s easy to believe that your first project is the only chance you get. If you mess that up, then the whole startup is done. However, if you succeed, then you’ve made it. This is an unnecessarily risky way of looking at things. Every project should be viewed as an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve; your first project especially. Don’t bet all-or-nothing on it because a lot of creative startups’ first projects won’t be great. They will be filled with regrets and errors. What’s important is that your second project will be even better because of all the lessons you learned. For that to happen, however, your startup still has to exist. 3. Take care of the people creating your vision. Creative startups can’t exist without the creative people who make them up. From animators to designers, writers, developers, etc., they are all valuable and necessary. That’s why, as the boss and founder, it’s important to make sure they’re well-taken care of. Taking care of your employees means managing them well to avoid crunching and burnout. It’s important to get deadlines done on time, but it’s even more important not to risk the mental health and well-being of your employees to get it done. A strong workplace is built on trust, communication, and respect. When employees feel supported and valued, they are more likely to stay motivated. Plus, happy and motivated employees make for productive employees. Another thing to keep in mind as a creative startup owner is that people need to know who you are. One way to get your name out there is to work with popular platforms such as HackerNoon. Here’s a sneak peek at HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Platform. Check out HackerNoon’s business blogging program . Here's what you get: Full editorial support – we’ll help refine your story so it truly shines. Multiple permanent placements – across HackerNoon, plus social media amplification. Audio storytelling – your articles converted into audio format and distributed via RSS feeds. Global reach – automatic translation into 12-76 languages. SEO & domain authority boost – piggyback on HackerNoon’s trusted brand to strengthen your search rankings. Now, let’s check out 3 creative startups that are putting their mark on the world. Meet Le Magazine du Mali, Animatory, and Baros: HackerNoon Startups of the Week Le Magazine du Mali Le Magazine du Mali is a platform that is determined to keep journalism alive in modern times. Based in Mali, they focus on both local and international news. They cover topics such as business, health, entertainment, politics, society, and much more. According to its website , Le Magazine du Mali was founded, “On principles of rigor and impartiality, our mission is to provide relevant insight into the country's major issues.” Animatory With all these claims of AI taking over the future of cinema and animation, it’s nice to see young and talented animation studios still popping up. Animatory is one such studio. Based in Tbilisi, Animatory has worked on a number of projects, such as Once Upon a Time, Stealing the Sun, and Paper Plane. According to its website , its team is made up of “30 young, talented ‘shooting stars’.” Taking a look at their projects, it’s hard not to believe them. Baros Another amazing animation studio comes from Santiago, Chile, and it’s Baros. They’ve been making waves working with big companies such as Verizon and Cheetos, bringing their animation and CGI skills to the table to make informative, yet entertaining commercials. They also love bringing to life popular characters such as SpongeBob and Isabelle from Animal Crossing. Whether it’s commercials or just fun short videos for social media, Baros has proven to be an immensely talented animation studio. Want to be featured? Share Your Startup's Story Today! That’s all for now. Until next time, Hackers!