This advice written by Paul Graham (Y Combinator) in October 2006 demonstrates the 18 mistakes that kill startups. This was written in regards to Internet companies, but it can apply to social enterprise as well. Here is a preview of this piece:

In a sense there’s just one mistake that kills startups: not making something users want. If you make something users want, you’ll probably be fine, whatever else you do or don’t do. And if you don’t make something users want, then you’re dead, whatever else you do or don’t do. So really this is a list of 18 things that cause startups not to make something users want. Nearly all failure funnels through that.

To read and find out all 18 ways, click here