Startups and Proposal Software: Sustainable Scaling With a Lean Organizational Structure

As a startup enters the growth stage, it is likely to encounter a number of particularly delicate situations and circumstances capable of derailing the company’s future potential as well as its long-term viability. One of the most common issues encountered by entrepreneurs occurs during the process of scaling, an issue Google struggled with back in the early aughts and something with which Uber and other “sharing economy” success stories are currently encountering as well.

The crux of the issue of scaling is associated with the inherent complexity of an expanding organizational structure. Many startups enjoy a great deal of immediate success while only employing just a few people, and it is only intuitive to believe that the success of a small startup is achieved despite its relatively diminutive stature. Though it may seem counterintuitive, the fact is that these small startups are often succeeding because of an easily managed and lean organizational structure.

In order for a startup to scale sustainably while maintaining a relatively lean organizational structure, it has to find ways to streamline certain tasks that are time-consuming, inefficient or ineffective. This is where proposal software enters the equation, as startups relying on a traditional proposal process to secure clients are likely dedicating a great deal of time to a task that is not generating a return worthy of the energy and effort devoted to it.

A proposal of any kind has to provide a prospective client with customized information that demonstrates the value the startup intends to deliver in a succinct yet persuasive manner. Through the use of a comprehensive proposal software platform, startups can create and deliver a customized proposal to clients quickly and efficiently. Such a proposal platform should also be capable of providing immediate feedback regarding the effectiveness of each individual aspect of the proposal, so data analytics should be incorporated into any all-in-one proposal tool utilized by a startup.

There are a number of other tasks that can be similarly streamlined to help ensure a startup maintains as lean an organizational structure as possible, but it is worth noting that scaling will absolutely have to involve the creation of an organizational hierarchy and the addition of new roles. Small teams and organizational continuity are key factors in building an effective structure and hierarchy, but this is only a plausible outcome if as many tasks -- including those associated with proposal development -- and as many roles are made to be as efficient as possible.