Wanted: idea-stage founders.

Do you know anyone like this?

We're looking for 4 - 6 senior professionals, who have a startup idea bursting to get out of them, but who don't know how to start.

Helping professionals become entrepreneurs.

We'll help them launch a "minimum viable business" over the course of 6-to-12 months, without them needing to quit their job.

If you know someone who has been talking about a startup idea for some time, but who still hasn't made the leap, we're here to help.

How can older people launch a business?

It's a big risk to leave a well-paid job to launch your own business, but even more so if you're in your late thirties, forties or fifties, with bills to pay and dependents to support.

This describes nearly all thirteen founders we've backed to date.

DQventures exists to support working professionals who desperately want to transition out of the corporate world to start and run their own business.

We work hand-in-hand with such people to validate their business idea and create proof that it can become a successful, self-sustaining company.

What's the process?

We're experts in taking startup ideas from zero to one. That means validating the idea, problem, solution and business model, to ensure there's fundamentally a way for this business to exist, provide value and make money.

This is typically a blend of marketing, user interviews, prototyping, audience and list building. We generally aim to launch a lean version of the business to the target audience, gauge the response and capture evidence that will convince us, our founders and potential investors that this is a business that should exist.

If we meet our objectives, and everyone feels positive about continuing, we'll run an end-to-end fundraising process, assembling the stories and assets (investor lists, emails, deck, business plan, data room, paperwork, etc.), and providing the guidance required to execute a successful startup fundraise.

What happens next?

Once capital is committed, or when the business is generating sufficient revenue, our founders are able to resign from their job and step into the business full time, as majority owner and CEO. The DQ team will then continue to add value, albeit from a distance, through regular meetings, leveraging our expansive network, and by providing ad hoc advice and support all the way to exit.

How to apply

Those interested in launching their own startup with DQventures should first understand the financial and time implications. You can find a comprehensive explanation here.

If that sounds like a fit for your needs and circumstances, please get in touch by submitting some information here. Our cofounders, James, Oliver and Arjun, review every application personally.

Thank you.

Image credit

– Featured image of John Hurt by Honeyfitz.
– Alien movie image from www.bloodydisgusting.com