Startups. A word that doesn't mean a thing to some, and means the world to others. The others are entrepeneurs, or investors. In order to have a startup, you need the right ingredients. And the recipe changes along the way !

It all starts with an idea. A lot of people have at least one good workable idea in their minds, but even if they want to do something serious with it, that doesn't mean it will succeed. In order to create a beta application you can present to the general public an possible investors, this is probably what you need.

• Guts. A lot of it.
• A working idea you can clearly describe. Don't forget, you will need to be able to explain clearly to others what it is about, or nobody will invest in it.
• A working beta, preferably with users.
• A good understanding of your customers (who do you want them to be)

And that's just the beginning. If you manage to get an investor interested, things change. Investments are never made without rules and regulations, expectations and such. You will need the character to keep standing up and ready to defend your idea over an over again.

And don't forget, location can be a factor. Read this article from the E-Commerce Times as an example. It's about a chinese couple that had a great idea but struggles to survive.