# From idea to a funded software startup

> A process map exported from forks.world (https://forks.world). Author: Brian. Source: https://forks.world/p/cmv21yc2w002aif0616z9m95k
> It describes who does what, in what order, and with which technology. Read the plain-language sections first; the JSON at the end is the exact, complete data.

## Summary

- 8 steps across 1 layer
- Persona: Founders, Lawyers, Investors

## How to read this file

- A process is made of **layers**. The main layer is the top level; any step of kind `subprocess` opens a detail layer with its own lanes and steps.
- **Lanes** are either persona (people/roles) or technology (systems). Each step belongs to one lane; `using` lists tools a person uses for that step.
- Step kinds: `start`, `task`, `decision` (its arrows carry the answer as a label), `subprocess`, `end`.

## From idea to a funded software startup

Lanes:
- Founders: person / role (id `founder`)
- Lawyers: person / role (id `counsel`)
- Investors: person / role (id `investor`)

Steps, in the order they run:

1. **Find a problem people will pay to fix** [subprocess; Founders; id `b1`], links to the published process "Idea to customer: from a problem to a thriving product" (https://forks.world/p/cmv0ieh4v005ojw06nqht8zpy; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv0ieh4v005ojw06nqht8zpy/export)
   - then Set up the company
2. **Set up the company** [subprocess; Lawyers; id `b2`], links to the published process "How to start an LLC and open for business" (https://forks.world/p/cmv21y4i4000cif06xklgkbt8; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv21y4i4000cif06xklgkbt8/export)
   - then Protect what is new about it
3. **Protect what is new about it** [subprocess; Lawyers; id `b3`], links to the published process "How you get a patent for an invention" (https://forks.world/p/cmv21nx10002zl206ninh20ed; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv21nx10002zl206ninh20ed/export)
   - then Launch and grow subscription revenue
4. **Launch and grow subscription revenue** [subprocess; Founders; id `b4`], links to the published process "How a subscription software company makes money" (https://forks.world/p/cmv21nwck002ul206rokimiab; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv21nwck002ul206rokimiab/export)
   - then Is growth strong enough to raise money?
5. **Is growth strong enough to raise money?** [decision; Founders; id `b5`]
   - if "Yes" go to Raise a venture round; if "No" go to Launch and grow subscription revenue
6. **Raise a venture round** [subprocess; Investors; id `b6`], links to the published process "How a startup raises venture capital" (https://forks.world/p/cmv21nu4j002al206oyn1bv9w; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv21nu4j002al206oyn1bv9w/export)
   - then Keep growing, then decide to go public
7. **Keep growing, then decide to go public** [subprocess; Founders; id `b7`], links to the published process "How a company goes public with an IPO" (https://forks.world/p/cmv21ntm80025l2064owvw1on; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv21ntm80025l2064owvw1on/export)
   - then Public shareholders buy and sell the stock
8. **Public shareholders buy and sell the stock** [subprocess; Investors; id `b8`], links to the published process "What happens when you buy a stock" (https://forks.world/p/cmv21nt4d0020l206h8e0gqm2; full text at https://forks.world/api/public/cmv21nt4d0020l206h8e0gqm2/export)
   - (no next step recorded)

```mermaid
flowchart LR
  subgraph l_founder["Founders"]
    n_b1[["Find a problem people will pay to fix"]]
    n_b4[["Launch and grow subscription revenue"]]
    n_b5{"Is growth strong enough to raise money?"}
    n_b7[["Keep growing, then decide to go public"]]
  end
  subgraph l_counsel["Lawyers"]
    n_b2[["Set up the company"]]
    n_b3[["Protect what is new about it"]]
  end
  subgraph l_investor["Investors"]
    n_b6[["Raise a venture round"]]
    n_b8[["Public shareholders buy and sell the stock"]]
  end
  n_b1 --> n_b2
  n_b2 --> n_b3
  n_b3 --> n_b4
  n_b4 --> n_b5
  n_b5 -->|"Yes"| n_b6
  n_b5 -->|"No"| n_b4
  n_b6 --> n_b7
  n_b7 --> n_b8
```

## Full data (JSON)

```json
{
  "title": "From idea to a funded software startup",
  "maps": {
    "m_root": {
      "id": "m_root",
      "lanes": [
        {
          "id": "founder",
          "name": "Founders",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "counsel",
          "name": "Lawyers",
          "type": "person"
        },
        {
          "id": "investor",
          "name": "Investors",
          "type": "person"
        }
      ],
      "steps": [
        {
          "id": "b1",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "founder",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv0ieh4v005ojw06nqht8zpy",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "Idea to customer: from a problem to a thriving product"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b2"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Find a problem people will pay to fix"
        },
        {
          "id": "b2",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "counsel",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv21y4i4000cif06xklgkbt8",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How to start an LLC and open for business"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b3"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Set up the company"
        },
        {
          "id": "b3",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "counsel",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv21nx10002zl206ninh20ed",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How you get a patent for an invention"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b4"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Protect what is new about it"
        },
        {
          "id": "b4",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "founder",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv21nwck002ul206rokimiab",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How a subscription software company makes money"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b5"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Launch and grow subscription revenue"
        },
        {
          "id": "b5",
          "kind": "decision",
          "lane": "founder",
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b6",
              "label": "Yes"
            },
            {
              "to": "b4",
              "label": "No"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Is growth strong enough to raise money?"
        },
        {
          "id": "b6",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "investor",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv21nu4j002al206oyn1bv9w",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How a startup raises venture capital"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b7"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Raise a venture round"
        },
        {
          "id": "b7",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "founder",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv21ntm80025l2064owvw1on",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "How a company goes public with an IPO"
          },
          "next": [
            {
              "to": "b8"
            }
          ],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Keep growing, then decide to go public"
        },
        {
          "id": "b8",
          "kind": "subprocess",
          "lane": "investor",
          "link": {
            "id": "cmv21nt4d0020l206h8e0gqm2",
            "scope": "public",
            "title": "What happens when you buy a stock"
          },
          "next": [],
          "uses": [],
          "label": "Public shareholders buy and sell the stock"
        }
      ],
      "title": "From idea to a funded software startup",
      "parent": null
    }
  }
}
```