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Tips from 20-something entrepreneurs on launching a startup

Amanda Herrera

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Tips from 20-something entrepreneurs on launching a startup
According to John Young, COO of Avion School, impact often starts small

The digital landscape has opened doors for rising and aspiring entrepreneurs. However, owning a business still entails a lot of one’s time and effort. Amid all the challenges, many young startup owners are proving that they are up to the task despite their age.

We interviewed some of them for advice on how they’re navigating the world of business.

Listen and respond

Ask yourself: which problem do you want to solve?  

According to Jose Aquino, their startup Akads – an online service that matches the best-fitting tutors to students – was conceptualized after his co-founder’s mom experienced difficulties finding a tutor for her children.

“After discovering that our batch mates were tutoring part-time and were capable of teaching grade school and high school, we thought: why not create a platform that matches parents and tutors?” Aquino said. 

Sophie Duavit and Mikki Yam of Beyond Botanical similarly found a demand that needed to be solved: that of plant care products to correspond to the increase in plant demand during the quarantine. 

As plant enthusiasts, they’ve observed that most products in the market are costly. They aimed to provide affordable and accessible plant care to assist new and seasoned owners in maintaining their plants. 

BEYOND BOTANICAL PRODUCT KIT

Demand doesn’t also have to be consumer-based. John Young, COO of Avion School, wanted to help “solve the shortage of software engineers.” 

“We have a 20 million college-aged population, yet only 4 million of those are graduating. Even if you graduate from a top college, you’re bound to make only 2-3% monthly of what you paid for in school,” Young noted.

Avion School aims to train software engineers who know the fundamentals of writing code and building software in the short span of 12 weeks. And the best part of their program is that students can choose to pay for the course only after being hired.

Cultivate your willingness to learn

“The internet has democratized education, yet people’s desire to learn is scarce. Find your own answers and practice curiosity,” said Young. 

AVION SCHOOL FOUNDERS. Victor Rivera (left) and John Young. Photo from Avion School’s Facebook.

Duavit agrees, saying: “There are some things you don’t learn in class and have to discover through experience. You can study business concepts but owning one teaches you first hand.” 

She recommends that one should learn how to perform social media marketing and basic accounting. “Know your way around Excel and Google Sheets,” she advised.

Aquino of Akads also believes that research and data gathering are valuable skills. “Tech skills like UX, UI, and programming are important to launch your idea as soon as possible and to get feedback on the feasibility of your business.”

He also states that effective communication and adapting to market changes are crucial.

Budget wisely and track your cash flow

Financial literacy is key to sustaining a business.

“Know how much of your capital to allocate for marketing, acquisitions, and other key activities,” Aquino advised. “If you have developers or suppliers, identify what amount you are willing to pay them and think about when their products or services are going to pay off.”

Have confidence in your vision

For Beyond Botanical’s Duavit, knowing what you want your brand to become plays an important role even in the early days of running a business.

“Have a vision, advocacy, and lifestyle that you are selling along with your product. Create things that you love and feel excited about, don’t just follow trends,” she said. 

TEAM BEYOND BOTANICAL. Mikki Yam (left) and Sophie Duavit. Photo from Beyond Botanical’s Instagram.

She brought up how Beyond Botanical’s in-house riders keep all delivery fees. As such, it’s not just Duavit and Yam’s passion for botany that motivates them to grow as a business, but a sense of responsibility towards stakeholders.

Keep the right company

As the saying goes, success is not an overnight process. It is then essential to surround yourself with individuals that positively impact your journey upwards.

“I only want to invest my time in people I can work with for years and do work that feels like play. Anything outside of that, I have no time for,” said Young.

Likewise, Aquino said he is fortunate to have a supportive and open-minded team that inspires him to work harder.

TEAM AKADS.
Just do it

Duavit claims that one does not need a large amount of money to start. She believes that a business can grow if the team behind it is passionate and determined. 

“Don’t expect to make a lot of money right away. Focus on creating something that you are proud of and that other people want to use,” Yam added.

Aquino also shares this drive to see results when it came to Akads. “When I know there is potential, I expect that we reach the goals we set for ourselves,” he said.

When asked the same question, Young had this to say: “Testing your ideas isn’t expensive. You don’t need to invest a huge amount of capital in figuring out what people want. Understand your users deeply and create for them. Talk, build, talk.” – Rappler.com

Amanda Herrera is a freelance writer and currently a student at the Ateneo de Manila University.

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