We Started Because Good Ideas Deserve Better Planning

Back in 2018, my co-founder Riley and I watched another friend's café close after eight months. Great coffee, terrible location choice, zero financial cushion. That's when we realized something — most business failures aren't about bad ideas. They're about skipping the boring parts.

veloronqixi grew from those conversations. We wanted to build something that helps people think through the practical stuff before they sign a lease or quit their job.

Early business planning workshop session in Adelaide

From Spreadsheets to Real Conversations

Our first "office" was a shared desk at a coworking space on Pirie Street. Riley handled the financial models while I talked to anyone who'd listen about their business dreams. We learned fast that people don't need more inspiration — YouTube has plenty of that. What they need is someone to ask the uncomfortable questions.

Like, have you actually calculated how many customers you need each day to break even? Or do you know what your competitor three blocks away charges? Turns out, most people haven't.

By mid-2019, we'd helped twelve locals work through their business concepts. Three of them never launched, which honestly felt like a win. Better to figure it out on paper than with your savings account.

How We Actually Work With People

Our process isn't fancy. It's just structured enough to catch the problems early, while everything's still fixable.

Market Reality Check

We start by looking at what already exists in your space. Who's doing it, how they're pricing it, where the gaps might be. This phase kills about 30% of ideas, which saves a lot of heartache later.

Financial Mapping

Here's where we build out the numbers. Not pie-in-the-sky projections, but realistic scenarios based on comparable businesses. We look at three versions: optimistic, likely, and "what if things go sideways."

Testing Framework

Before you commit serious money, we help design small experiments. Pop-up events, pre-sales, landing pages — whatever gives you real feedback without emptying your bank account.

When Theory Meets Reality

The Initial Concept

Megan came to us in February 2024 wanting to start a subscription box service for pet supplies. She'd done some research but mostly had enthusiasm and a love for animals. Her financial plan was basically "it'll work itself out."

The Uncomfortable Part

We spent six weeks breaking down the logistics. Shipping costs alone were going to eat 40% of her projected revenue. Her target customer — busy pet owners — turned out to prefer buying in person so they could check product quality.

The Pivot

Instead of scrapping everything, we helped Megan redesign the concept. She launched a mobile pet grooming service with an online booking system. Lower overhead, better margins, same customer base. She's been running it for eight months now and just hired her first employee.

What Changed

The difference wasn't the idea itself. It was taking time to understand the actual market mechanics before jumping in. That's what we try to create for everyone — space to think through the details that matter.

Business planning session with financial analysis documents

Team collaboration on business strategy development

What We've Learned Along the Way

Seven years in, we've worked with over 200 entrepreneurs across Adelaide and regional South Australia. Some launched successfully. Others decided not to, which is honestly just as valuable an outcome.

The patterns are pretty clear now. Businesses that take time to validate their assumptions tend to survive those rough first eighteen months. The ones that rush in because they're excited rarely make it past year one.

We're not here to crush dreams or pump sunshine. Our job is to help you see around corners before you get there.

Financial Practicality

We focus on cash flow, not just profit projections. You can be profitable on paper and still run out of money. We help you understand the timing of everything — when money comes in versus when it needs to go out.

Market Validation

Before you invest heavily, we help design tests that give you actual feedback. Sometimes that means discovering your idea needs adjustment. Other times it confirms you're onto something worth pursuing.

Ready to Test Your Idea Properly?

Our autumn 2025 program opens for applications in May. We work with small groups, usually around eight entrepreneurs at a time, over a twelve-week period. It's not quick, but it's thorough.

If you've got a business concept that keeps nagging at you, let's have a conversation about whether it actually makes financial sense. No pressure, no sales pitch — just an honest look at the numbers and the market.

Get in Touch