Startups Don’t Fail Because of Bad Ideas, They Fail Because of Avoidable Mistakes
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Speaker : JONAS ADORO
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When : Thursday, November 27, 2025
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Time : 01 : 00 PM EST
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Jonas Adoro Finance Executive, Mentor and Business Coach, Entrepreneurship Strategist and CX Speaker.
With over 27 years of experience in retail and business banking, Jonas Adoro is more than a finance executive; he is a catalyst for growth, a champion of people, and a visionary leader ready to make a significant impact. He is a business coach, strategist, and mentor passionate about unlocking potential and driving peak performance in others. A seasoned business leader, Jonas has carved out a reputation for driving transformation, managing risk, and fostering high-performance teams across South Africa’s banking sector.
From the
ground up, Jonas has built a career marked by consistent growth and
diverse expertise. He has held key leadership positions in major
financial institutions, including Standard Bank, ABSA, and Nedbank,
where he orchestrated game-changing strategies in business growth, risk
management, and customer experience. Currently serving as Managing
Director of Oroda Business Consultants, he champions entrepreneurial
excellence while also leading as a Regional Client Experience Manager at
Standard Bank, ensuring world-class service delivery.
Passionate
about mentorship and coaching, Jonas is committed to developing the
next generation of financial professionals and entrepreneurs. His
leadership extends beyond the boardroom—his impact was recognized when
he won 3rd Prize in the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Social
Enterprise Skills Award in 2014, marking his contribution to job
creation challenges.
A graduate with a
Bachelor in Management Leadership (BML) from the University of the Free
State Business School, Jonas further honed his expertise through an
Advanced Certificate in Management Practice (ACMP) from Henley Business
School and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA)
from Tsiba Business School. Currently, as he embarks on a Master of
Management in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation (MMENVC) at Wits
Business School, his pursuit of knowledge exemplifies his commitment to
continual growth and innovation in the financial and entrepreneurship
realm.
Fluent in multiple South African
languages, Jonas is a versatile communicator, a profit-driven
strategist, and an influential public speaker who thrives on driving
meaningful change in the financial sector. His ability to build strong
client relationships, optimize costs, and navigate complex financial
landscapes makes him a sought-after leader in the industry.
When
Jonas isn’t transforming financial strategies or mentoring future
leaders, he’s redefining success through Oroda.Africa, an initiative
focused on business consulting and economic empowerment.
Most startups begin with enthusiasm, innovation, and a great idea—but many don’t last. Research from CB Insights highlights that the top reasons startups fail are linked to avoidable mistakes, not flawed ideas.
Here are the key reasons startups fail and how they can be prevented:
1. Poor Financial Management
Many startups mismanage cash flow, underestimate expenses, or fail to secure sustainable funding. Without financial discipline, even the best ideas can’t survive.
Solution: Implementing strong financial forecasting, budgeting, and investor relations strategies.
2. Ignoring Governance and Compliance
Startups often overlook legal, regulatory, and governance requirements, assuming they don’t apply until they scale. This leads to fines, lawsuits, and operational shutdowns.
Solution: Establishing early governance structures, compliance policies, and risk assessments.
3. Weak Market Research and Customer Validation
Many startups build products based on assumptions rather than real customer needs. They run out of money before achieving product-market fit.
Solution: Using lean startup principles, customer validation, and iterative product development.
4. Leadership and Team Issues
Startups often suffer from poor leadership, lack of experience, or conflicts within the founding team. This leads to mismanagement, stalled growth, and investor distrust.
Solution: Building a strong leadership team, hiring strategically, and developing a clear decision-making framework.
5. Inability to Scale Properly
Startups either scale too fast without structure or delay growth, missing market opportunities. Both can be fatal.
Solution: Using data-driven decision-making and implementing scalable operational processes.
6. Weak Risk Management and Crisis Response
Startups rarely have contingency plans for market shifts, cyber threats, or economic downturns. When crisis strikes, they collapse.
Solution: Embedding risk management from the start, with clear response strategies.
By addressing these areas, startups can significantly increase their survival rate, attract investors, and build sustainable, high-growth businesses.
Areas Covered
- Why good ideas fail due to operational and strategic mistakes
- The most common startup mistakes and how to avoid them
- The role of governance, risk, and compliance in startup success
- Financial and operational discipline for sustainable growth
- Leadership, culture, and hiring strategies for resilient businesses
- How to align agility with governance to prevent legal and compliance risks
- Case studies of failed and successful startups
- Risk management strategies to future-proof a business
Who Should Attend
- Startup Founders & Entrepreneurs
- Venture Capitalists & Angel Investors
- Business Strategy Consultants
- Startup Advisors & Mentors
- CFOs and Financial Controllers in Startups
- Legal & Compliance Officers
Why Should You Attend
Fear:
- Startup survival rates: More than 18% of startups fail within two years, and over 55% don’t survive past five years. Without addressing avoidable mistakes, entrepreneurs risk joining these statistics.
- Financial loss: Poor financial management can lead to resource depletion and eventual collapse.
Uncertainty:
- Market challenges: Many startups struggle with product-market fit and adapting to changing consumer needs.
- Leadership gaps: Ineffective management often leads to disorganization and missed opportunities.
Doubt:
- “Is my idea strong enough?” Often, it’s not the idea but the execution that determines success. This session equips entrepreneurs with tools to avoid common pitfalls and maximize their chances of success.
Attendees will learn actionable strategies to overcome these challenges, ensuring they build sustainable businesses.
Topic Background
The startup world is often glorified as a place where great ideas determine success. However, research suggests that 90% of startups fail, not because their ideas were flawed, but because of avoidable strategic, operational, and compliance mistakes.
Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) professionals play a crucial role in preventing these failures by helping startups identify risks early, implement strong governance structures, and navigate regulatory challenges. This lesson explores why startups fail, the most common mistakes they make, and how they can build resilience to avoid collapse.
Startups don’t just need funding and innovation—they need strategic discipline and risk intelligence. This session will equip participants with the tools to recognize and mitigate the common pitfalls that lead to startup failure.
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$160.00
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