In the context of partnerships with system integrators (SIs), timing is crucial, and startups need to be prepared before pitching. It’s essential to ensure that major enterprise software integrations are in place, providing end-to-end services with systems that are fully integrated, compliance-tested, and security-verified. These foundational steps are critical, as without them, the proposal often falters at the architectural review stage, where approval is unlikely. Startups must meet these baseline requirements to align with the expectations of SIs, ensuring their solutions are robust and partnership-ready. This approach has proven effective for many startups in building successful collaborations.