Startup AdVenture

I went into the Startup AdVenture Program with two objectives in mind; one, understand the startup world, and two, build my network connections. I can positively say, I achieved both objectives and more.

Over the mid-year break, I decided it was time for me to develop my employability skills. As a second year student, I applied for a Startup AdVenture worried that I would be out of my depth and my limited knowledge would hinder my ability to contribute.

During my Singapore Startup Adventure, I learnt a great deal about my strengths and weaknesses. Over the three weeks learning alongside my startup, I had the opportunity to use the knowledge and abilities I developed during my studies. I applied these skills daily, which gave me a better grasp and appreciation for them. But there were also times that I was assigned tasks where I had not the faintest clue on the subject.

In the mid-year break, I took part in the Startup AdVenture program where I learned alongside a startup for four weeks with Klaud9 — a startup based in Singapore using AI to connect businesses and brands with photographers in Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

As a final year computer science and physics student and chronic overthinker — when I looked at my resume and realised I didn’t have any workplace experience I started to stress. I remembered being told about a program that UQ Ventures offers, so after some online research I sent in my application.

As its name implies, the Startup Adventure is meant to be an adventure and is a journey where you should expect self, professional, and academic growth.

Some say it’s a business in its initial stages, but I got to experience something more than that. I learnt that a startup is developing a unique product or service and trying to implement it into the market for solving problems, filling a gap in the market, and making it irresistible for customers not to use.

At the beginning of the 2021/2022 summer holidays, I took part in the Startup AdVentures Program where I worked full-time for four weeks with a startup.