Over the years Assent Risk Management has worked with many startups to establish a management system that scales as the business grows.
One of the most challenging stages of a startup is the initial seed funding rounds, however ISO Certification for Startups can help increase your chances of a successful pitch and maximise the investment you bring into your startup.
Why Does ISO Certification Matter to Startups?
ISO management systems establish a risk-based framework for managing aspects of your business, which is ideal at the startup stage. If implemented correctly, these management systems can remain dynamic to the changing needs of the startup while still maintaining a level of control.
ISO Certification provides an impartial assessment and acknowledgement of the startups management system, helping build trust and drive improvement.
There are also many marketing benefits to ISO Certification, as the marks can be used to demonstrate your commitment to various important aspects of the business including Environmental management (ISO 14001), Information Security (ISO 27001), AI Governance (ISO 42001) and more!
For this reason ISO Certification is often attractive to investors and can be used to maximise your seed funding rounds.
Which ISO Standards are best for my Startup?
The ISO standards you choose to focus on will largely depend on the needs of your startup. Consider which areas of your business have the higher risks and how your brand wants to be perceived.
Some examples:
- ISO 14001 the environmental management standard is great for businesses that have a high impact on the environment or focus on sustainability in their brand.
- ISO 27001 the information security standard suits businesses who need to build trust because they are processing personal information or other commercially sensitive data.
- ISO 22301 for business continuity demonstrates a company’s ability to operate during disruptive events and is often adopted by regulated businesses and those delivering important services to the public sector.
- ISO 42001 is a relatively new management system standard for AI Systems, and is becoming the benchmark for demonstrating ethical use and governance of AI.
Many startups implement several of these standards as an integrated management system.
Funding Rounds where ISO Certification Can Help
| Round | What Investors Are Looking for. | How ISO Certification Can Help |
| Pre-Seed / Friends & Family | Idea / prototype, team, potential, low risk exposure. | Adopting ISO early shows discipline in the business and helps to manage risks early. |
| Seed | Product-market fit, early customers, scalable processes, low risk. | ISO provides a structured process approach to your operations, driving continual improvement. |
| Series A, B and Beyond | Scalability, risk mitigation, compliance, market expansion, ESG (environmental, social, governance) concerns | Embedded ISO management systems support your scaling up and build trust in your brand’s vision through third-party auditing and certification. |
Cost of ISO Certification and Return on Investment
Implementing ISO at an early stage is a great way to minimise costs by working with a limited scope of certification and low staff numbers.
The criteria used by ISO Certification Bodies to calculate the audit time (and therefore the cost) includes the number of staff and the complexity of the business. Find out more: How Are ISO Certification Audit Days Calculated?
The resources needed to implement and support an ISO management system at the startup stage are also reduced, and consultants who specialist in ISO for Startups, like us at Assent Risk Management, can deliver a lean project that minimises consultancy cost.
Whereas the upside potential is huge, by attracting additional investment funds and driving customer trust in your product, service and business!
The return on investment for ISO Certification can be considerable.
Getting Started with ISO Certification for your Startup
Reach out to our expert ISO consultants at Assent who can guide you through the project, often starting with a gap analysis and discover workshops.
We can take away a lot of the headaches by drafting documentation and identifying opportunities for improvement. We can even support your external audits during the certification process.
Frequently Asked Questions about ISO Certification for Startups
Not always. Although most investors will be familiar with ISO certification, and its benefits, they wont necessarily expect you to have this implemented at the seed stage. However, they will be looking for structured processes and a responsible attitude towards risk management, which ISO certification can demonstrate. Regulated sectors more so.
No, it doesn’t have to, but if handled poorly it can have a negative impact. That’s where using an experienced ISO consultant such as Assent Risk Management is essential to ensure your ISO journey is lean and efficient, avoiding potential issues and taking on many of the tasks that are not core to your startup business.
This very much depends on your business and the products/services you are offering. Our ISO consultants can offer impartial advice on which standards offer the most benefits in your market place. You can browse the common ISO standard here.
