The 90-Day Sprints Every Founder Should Take When Starting a Business

Starting a business is an exhilarating but complex journey. As a founder, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the endless tasks, from product development to securing funding, and everything in between. One strategy that can help founders stay focused and effective is organizing efforts into 90-day sprints. These short, focused periods allow founders to set clear, achievable goals, track progress, and adjust as needed. Here’s a breakdown of what each 90-day sprint should look like when you’re getting a business off the ground.

Day 0-30: Define, Validate, and Plan

The first 30 days are all about laying the foundation for your business. Before you start thinking about growth, you need to ensure the idea is solid and aligned with market needs.

1. Define Your Vision and Mission

• Articulate what your business will achieve, what problem it will solve, and why it matters.

• Start by creating a vision and mission that will guide decision-making, help you prioritize, and inspire your team.

2. Validate the Idea

• Don’t assume your business idea is foolproof. Get out there and talk to potential customers.

• Use surveys, interviews, or even launch a minimum viable product (MVP) to gather feedback.

• Validate the need for your solution and refine based on customer insights.

3. Craft a Business Plan

• Put together a comprehensive business plan, focusing on market opportunity, customer segments, revenue models, and go-to-market strategies.

• This document will guide you through early challenges and help you attract investors.

4. Establish Your Brand Identity

• Begin crafting your brand identity, including logo, voice, and messaging that reflect the value you bring to customers.

Day 31-60: Build, Launch, and Establish Key Processes

With validation and planning in place, the next sprint is about turning ideas into action and laying the groundwork for sustainable growth.

1. Build Your Product

• Focus on product development, ensuring you’re addressing the core pain points validated during your market research.

• If possible, build an MVP that allows you to enter the market faster and gather additional feedback for improvements.

2. Launch a Pilot or Beta

• Consider launching a beta or pilot version of your product to a select group of users. This gives you a chance to test the waters, refine your offering, and gather critical data before a full launch.

3. Implement Core Business Processes

• Set up the key operational processes such as finance, accounting, legal, and compliance. Early investments in these areas will pay off as you scale.

• Establish a customer support framework to ensure you’re able to handle inquiries and issues effectively post-launch.

4. Begin Building a Network

• Establish partnerships or alliances that can help you in your early days. This could include suppliers, industry influencers, or even advisory boards.

• Network with potential investors to set the stage for future fundraising.

Day 61-90: Market, Optimize, and Scale

By now, your product is taking shape, and you have a clearer vision of your business. The final sprint is about launching your business to the market, optimizing your efforts, and building momentum.

1. Develop and Execute a Marketing Plan

• Create a detailed marketing strategy focusing on digital channels, social media, and PR that will generate buzz for your product launch.

• Use this period to start engaging with your target market, even if it’s through pre-launch campaigns or teasers.

2. Launch Officially

• With your marketing plan in place, go for the full product launch. Ensure you’ve built enough hype and that you have the operational capacity to manage the influx of new customers.

3. Gather Data and Optimize

• Start measuring your performance across key areas: customer acquisition, product performance, and user feedback.

• Use data-driven insights to refine your strategy and product offering.

4. Prepare for Scaling

• As you move past the initial launch, assess your scalability. Are there areas where you need to invest in resources or technology? Are your customer acquisition costs sustainable?

• Begin looking at capital formation options if needed. This could include venture capital, angel investment, or strategic partnerships.

Why 90-Day Sprints?

The 90-day sprint framework helps founders avoid being bogged down by the myriad of tasks and instead forces them to focus on what’s most important at any given moment. Each sprint is short enough to maintain urgency and long enough to create measurable outcomes. By focusing on key objectives during these sprints, founders can remain agile, test ideas quickly, and iterate without wasting time or resources.

In business, momentum is key. Each 90-day sprint gives you the opportunity to push forward while reassessing your position and adjusting as needed. Whether it’s securing funding, growing your customer base, or refining your product, a sprint framework ensures that your business moves forward, step by step, toward long-term success.

Starting a business is a marathon, not a sprint. However, breaking down the early stages of your business into manageable 90-day sprints can give you a framework for focused growth, increased accountability, and regular progress evaluation. By setting strategic goals for each sprint, you’ll be better positioned to achieve long-term success while avoiding the typical pitfalls of startup chaos.

If you're a founder ready to hit the ground running, consider adopting this sprint model to build momentum and make tangible progress. Success in the early stages is all about taking actionable steps, and a 90-day sprint approach will ensure you stay on track and moving forward.