You only have to watch an episode of Shark Tank to realize that turning the glimmer of an idea into a viable business entity is no easy feat. Many researchers attribute a startup’s fortunes to its founder’s ability to attract funding, lure essential employees, and deploy initially limited resources to pursue a strong but sustainable rate of growth. Venture capitalists essentially use the same metrics when they peer through the fog of uncertainty and weigh whether a fledgling project deserves their investment — and if so, for how long.
