Samer Khaled, founder of Big Bite Marketing Agency, said startups should validate demand for their products and services before expanding their teams, renting offices or taking on higher operating costs.
Speaking during a panel at the 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Festival, Khaled said founders should first define the problem they want to solve, identify potential customers, estimate demand and understand how sales and delivery will work. They should also determine the minimum resources and operating costs needed to test the business.
According to Khaled, startups can begin with limited resources, work independently or use simple operating arrangements and digital tools. The priority in the early stages should be building a product that can be tested and reaching customers, rather than investing in large teams or expensive offices.
He also explained the difference between a prototype and a minimum viable product (MVP). A prototype tests the initial concept, while an MVP is a usable early version that allows real customers to assess the product and provide feedback.
Khaled said companies should scale only after early tests show genuine customer demand and commercial potential. At that point, founders can gradually expand their teams, capacity and legal and operational structures. He added that basing decisions on market results can help startups reduce financial risk and avoid commitments that exceed their actual needs.
Source: Fintech Gate
