Startup Sandwich Podcast | Entrepreneurship in Bite Sized Lessons

Before You Start a Business: How to Tell If Your Idea Is Viable

YEDI (York Entrepreneurship Development Institute) Season 1 Episode 8

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 35:32

Before you start a business, one critical question matters: is your idea actually viable?

In this episode of the Startup Sandwich Podcast, powered by the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI), Rick Phillips speaks with Fabio Crespin from United Way about the reality of entrepreneurship, how to evaluate a business idea, and why a good idea alone isn’t enough to build a successful startup.

Many entrepreneurs start a business based on passion or inspiration, but without understanding whether there is real market demand. In this conversation, Fabio shares insights from years of working with entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and social enterprises to explain how founders can think realistically about business viability, market signals, and long-term sustainability.

In this episode we discuss:

• How to know if your business idea is viable
• Why most business ideas fail before reaching the market
• The importance of market demand and real market signals
• Balancing entrepreneurial determination with honest feedback
• What social enterprises are and how they work
• Real examples of businesses creating jobs for people facing employment barriers
• Why sustainable business models matter more than grants
• The role of mentors, communities, and support networks in entrepreneurship
• How automation and economic changes are shaping the future of work
• Why more people are turning to entrepreneurship and small business ownership

🎧 Startup Sandwich Podcast is powered by the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) www.yedi.ca , a global leader in entrepreneurship education and startup training. The podcast explores the real stories, challenges, and lessons behind building successful businesses and entrepreneurial ventures.