5 Skill Gaps That Kill Early-Stage Startups (and how to spot them)

When startups fail, it’s rarely because the idea wasn’t good. More often, it’s because the founding team was missing a critical skill at a critical moment.

Here are the five gaps we see most often between ideation and seed stage:

1. Product & Tech

You need someone who can translate vision into a product people actually want to use. Without strong UX, tech decisions, or MVP design, you risk building the wrong thing, the wrong way.

2. Growth & Marketing

63% of failed funding attempts come down to poor sales and marketing. You can’t raise or sell without clear messaging and early traction.

3. Sales & Customer Development

Founders often underestimate how early sales matter. If nobody is owning pipeline, calls, and conversion, momentum stalls fast.

4. Finance & Ops

Without financial modelling and operational discipline, even promising startups run out of runway too quickly.

5. Fundraising & Investor Readiness

You only get one chance to impress investors. Poor decks, weak storytelling, or lack of polish can cost your ability to raise.

Being a generalist founder is not a weakness, it’s a strength. The strongest founders are the ones who know when to call in help. That’s why Edwin Projects exists: to help early-stage founders identify the skills they’re missing, and connect them seamlessly with pre-vetted specialists who can deliver real impact.

Want to see where our specialists could supercharge your progress? Book a Free Gap Mapping Session here.