Hosting the NextGen Ventures student founders in our Sydney offices earlier this month was a pleasure. Spearheaded by our investment intern Varad C., the vibes were electric and these promising young founders will certainly be ones to watch!
Lessons learned from the Sydney Student Founder Mixer...🕰🔙 This month, we brought together 25 of the most promising student founders in NSW in one room. We were lucky to have Andrew Poesaste from Rampersand share growth tips and common pitfalls for ambitious young founders, inspired by his own experience building a social networking site in university 👨🎓. 1. 🏗️ Build Your Team, Build Your Future Your company is actually two products in one: your market offering AND your people. Here's the key learnings uncovered: • A small, energised team of 6-8 people who are all-in will outperform a much larger, half-committed group. • Those early wins – first products, first customers, first victories – they're both thrilling and terrifying. • Key takeaway: Embrace your dual role as Builder Recruiter. 2. 🌎 Chase Your Industry's Heartbeat Want to accelerate your growth? Go where the action is: • Whether it's Silicon Valley, New York, or London – find your industry's epicenter • No need to relocate permanently – even a short-term Airbnb stay with your co-founders can be transformative • You'll gain: Inspiration from talent density, direct customer access, and an upgraded "clock speed" that stays with you 3. 🗣 Founder Sales: Your Secret Weapon Early-stage founders, here's your edge: • People buy from people they trust and like! • Master the art of being half salesperson, half therapist • Listen deeply to customer problems and their perceived value • Build champions who'll help you navigate procurement and compete against lower-priced alternatives. At NextGen Ventures, we believe that the best outcomes occur when you grow a garden of tall poppies together🌷🌷🌷 Keep your eyes peeled for more catch ups to come. 👀 Thank you to Rampersand, Hatch, Andrew Poesaste, and Taryn Pieterse for allowing us to host this event at your office! 🫶 🌟#NextGen #StudentStartups #SydneyFounders