Starting a business has never been easy but today’s entrepreneurs face an especially daunting retail environment. Between rising tariffs, economic headwinds and supply chain disruptions, there is fierce competition in every market sector to place new products on limited retailer shelf space.
An entrepreneur surveying this landscape can readily see that launching innovative, impactful products is now a formidable challenge. Then again, entrepreneurs are some of the most driven and creative people in the world — and more than capable of navigating obstacles.
But before diving into the “how,” let’s take a closer look at what exactly entrepreneurs are up against. The data presented below is drawn from more than 20,000 submissions to Alibaba.com’s CoCreate Pitch, the world’s largest product-focused pitch competition.
Lack of funding — nearly two-thirds (64%) of applicants to CoCreate Pitch cited a lack of funding as their largest obstacle. Even founders with great ideas said they often get pulled into a cycle of bootstrapping and stuck there. Traditional lenders tend to apply the brakes amid economic uncertainty, while early stage investors favor safe bets over untested innovations. For entrepreneurs in emerging markets or industries hit hard by tariffs and inflation, the funding challenge is even tougher and can stifle growth well before a new product can gain traction.
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Difficulty finding mentors — 21% of applicants stated mentorship remains out of reach. Why is this a problem? Because without mentorship, founders are forced to learn tough lessons through costly trial and error. A seasoned mentor, on the other hand, can guide founders around dead ends and open doors to funding, talent and relationships with retailers that might otherwise remain locked.
Limited supply chain support. Some 18% of CoCreate Pitch applicants identified supply chain woes as a primary obstacle. Smaller-scale innovators frequently struggle with the high minimum-order requirements imposed by contract manufacturers. And just as pandemic-era disruptions are subsiding, new challenges are rising, like geopolitical tensions and skyrocketing shipping costs. This is a problem because a single supply chain disruption can delay crucial product launches by months, which can be fatal for many small businesses.
But entrepreneurs are problem-solvers by nature. Here are three ways small businesses are thriving amid all the uncertainty to bring their products to store shelves:
1. Build and Grow Personal Networks
Industry conferences are a great place to network, gain insights from industry experts and make useful, in-person connections. They also are good for finding new investors, forging partnerships and learning from other business owners who have overcome similar challenges — all in one place.
The most successful entrepreneurs take a personal and strategic approach to conferences. They understand that face-to-face meetings with potential investors, mentors, suppliers and retailers often yield better, more immediate results than months of emailing back and forth or spending time on video calls.
Some of the best conferences, such as Alibaba’s CoCreate 2025, even have innovative networking opportunities like speed-dating sessions that let entrepreneurs connect with suppliers, pitch investors or find contract manufacturers for their products. These rapid, targeted, in-person interactions often lead to partnerships that would never happen by more remote methods.
2. Enter Pitch Competitions
One of the best ways for entrepreneurs to access capital is by entering pitch competitions. Yes, these events offer prize money, but equally important, they provide exposure to investors, validation of the business idea and valuable feedback to refine market approach.
Founders have the chance to hone their value proposition under pressure, which is a crucial skill when pitching new customers and securing manufacturers, suppliers and investors. Competition winners also usually garner media exposure and instant credibility, which can further open doors to new opportunities. Even the startups that don’t win can make connections that lead to funding or partnerships down the road.
3. Seek Out Expert Advice
Mentorship is rocket fuel for startups. And business conferences can offer access to some of the best people in an industry who can offer guidance and provide inroads to essential retailer relationships.
Many conferences also have expert-led sessions addressing the most critical challenges businesses launching a new product face today. Want to leverage AI to enhance trade efficiency? Need to build a resilient global supply chain? Want to protect profit margins against rising operational costs and tariff-related inflation? Smart founders can learn how to do all these things and more at the right conference. Plus, the connections that are made can be essential to putting an up-and-coming product on retail shelves.
Industry Events Drive Success Amidst Uncertainty
For entrepreneurs, participating in industry events like CoCreate 2025 and CoCreate Pitch is now practically essential. These platforms are an easy, effective way to find the funding, mentorship and strategic connections needed to surmount today’s obstacles and find opportunities for tomorrow.
