Critical to success is the ability to plan for all contingencies - identify funding sources early,  timing of funding release, commitment to sponsors, advisors and partners.  Other best practices would include ensuring you have the ability to engage general counsel, understand  industry specific certification requirements and associated costs, identify infrastructure architecture including workplace tools and templates and finally beyond values, mission and a high-level strategy, the organization must be committed to the work of defining  financial, operational, technology and product roadmaps.