There are dozens of factors that influence the trajectory of a startup company. Many things that can kill your operation; for example, high cost of goods, the inability to find qualified employees or simply poor management. However, there are only 3 things that can make your company a success.

The University of Michigan focuses on the importance of creativity and innovation. Combining these values with a well rounded education gives its students not only the building blocks to build their own future, but also the confidence to do so. Over the past five years, students and alumni have raised over $68 million in funding.

Baylor University has ranked #12 in the U.S. for its Entrepreneurship program. Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business Entrepreneurship program has educated and molded aspiring entrepreneurs for over 40 years by involving students in emerging business ventures.

Founded on faith and the pursuit of knowledge, Brigham Young University is a private institution that prides itself in a creative environment that encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, and cultivates strong values. Not only does BYU set a high standard for its students, but the university also maintains a standard of excellence through its faculty and resources.

If you’re not careful, it is easy to focus on avoiding onerous rules or minimizing tax consequences at the expense or your core business operations. These are certainly important factors, but they take a clear second place to meeting the market demand-solving the consumer’s problem.

Are you thinking of the next step or the final destination? Here’s how conceptual thinking influences your business strategy and eventually the success of your company.

The C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine for having one of the Top 10 Entrepreneurship programs in the nation for more than ten consecutive years. A competitive and thriving institution, the University of Houston prides itself and cultivating industrious, versatile professionals who are ready to dive into the bustling job market.

The increasing importance of the Millennial or Gen-Y Generation, those born between early 1980s and the early 2000s, presents the most significant shift in focus for businesses. This up and coming group may present some unique challenges to new business owners, particularly those from an older generation.

The purpose of discussions with these constituents begins with validation but ultimately includes the potential of funding your startup.

Belmont University’s entrepreneur program gives aspiring entrepreneurs a well-rounded education that incorporates business models, ethics, growth management, and helps recognize and evaluate potential opportunities.