2 Tips for being a student founder

Hi! Thanks for tuning in this Monday! Just a quick foreword before we get into the juice, we recently went through a rebrand for this newsletter. Previously known as the “Internpeneur”, this newsletter has now rebranded to, “Next Up”. We are still posting your weekly internship and startup insights, just with a new look. Hope you enjoy ;)

Being a student founder isn’t easy, but it comes with its perks. Aside from the generic advice of building a strong team and having excellent technical ability, what does it take to build a tech startup as a student? There is no blueprint to being a founder, however here are two tips to help you stimulate growth early.

The first tip to succeeding as a student founder is embracing the ability to take on risks. Think of each company as a vehicle and its founders as the drivers. A startup, designed for rapid growth and frequent pivots, is like a Formula 1 car—built for speed, agility, and quick decision-making. In contrast, a well-established company like Google or Microsoft resembles a Toyota Camry—engineered for stability, reliability, and risk management. As a startup founder, you’re the F1 driver of your company. You need the urgency to accelerate toward opportunities and the confidence to make sharp adjustments when navigating challenges.

YouTube is a prime example of a tech company that made a quick and crucial pivot, transforming from a failed video dating site called "Tune In Hook Up" to the world's leading video-sharing platform. Recognizing that their original concept was not gaining traction, the founders swiftly changed their focus to create a platform where anyone could upload and share videos, regardless of content. This strategic pivot proved incredibly successful, and in 2006, just over a year after its launch, YouTube was acquired by Google for $1.65 billion.

It’s easy to talk about these great success stories, but how can you be next up? Unlike the founders of youtube, student founders don’t have to necessarily worry about the direct consequences of a failed startup, so just take the leap.

My second tip is the absolute need for speed in the early stages of a startup. Lots of startups, especially among students in university, end up dying before they even have a chance, and this is largely due to the lack of urgency and efficiency in the early stages. More often than not, development takes far less time than spent due to lack of commitment. This is also deeply dependent on who you chose to become a part of your team, so make sure you evaluate candidates carefully. Personally, I have experienced many failed projects solely due to the lack of movement early on.

Additionally, moving fast early on is a very effective way to stimulate optimism and stronger commitment from a team. Being able to see the idea come to life and used will instill your team with a newfound sense of responsibility and commitment that will take your project to new heights. With that being said, be confident, take risks, and drive fast.