Dev Shah’s Post

“How dedicated should I be to my startup?” As student founders, we often find ourselves juggling various roles and facing tremendous uncertainty. Initially, I viewed options as "either/or," rather than "yes/and." I put all my eggs in one basket, betting on myself to get into the Summer Accelerator Program without a Plan B for this summer. The result? ❓ We were deferred in the early decision. 💔 Now, the question is: How can I sustain myself? Ever since the age of 16, just one year after immigrating to the U.S., I've worked every summer to save up money for the upcoming school year. This decision, hanging in the air, really knocked me out of the La La Land of the startup bubble I was in. 🫧 I've realized responsibilities don’t have to exclude each other. Often, at the beginning of our journey, we can't afford to limit our choices to "either/or." 💼 So, I'm entering the job market! 💼 💌 Beyond sending applications online, I’d like to ask my network (you!)👤: if you know of any internship opportunities or have heard of someone who does. Please feel free to message me or comment below. 💌 Work is a partnership! I offer my skills and experience to take tasks off your plate so that you can focus on higher-stakes priorities. With over a year of running a startup and leading a team of six, I'm looking forward to an opportunity to collaborate and contribute. Here are lessons learned for all my entrepreneur friends out there: 📚 1️⃣ As much as passion and dreams can sound promising, they don't put a roof over your head. Find ways to fund your passion. 2️⃣ For those of us who need to support ourselves financially while pursuing entrepreneurship, your well-being is the foundation of everything you strive to create.❤️ 🔔Just a reminder, everyone who does great things is in the face of great fear and uncertainty. #startupjourney #jobs #internships #network #ask #lessonslearned #entrepreneuership

How I cured my own "analysis paralysis" as a founder: I focused on doing one thing REALLY well. Catalyst XL has always been working to expose students to the world of entrepreneurship. But there are a million ways to approach that, and we were going to take all of those approaches at once. But with limited resources, I realized we were setting ourselves up for failure. We needed to find a "silver bullet" way to solve the problem, rather than the scattered "shotgun" approach we were going to take. So we focused on what we do best: startup internships. For students, internships are an elegant way to gain a deeper understanding of the startup ecosystem, build a network, develop their entrepreneurial mindset, and work with incredible mentors. That's not to say we ONLY help students get startup internships. But everything else we do (education, community engagement) is to enhance our ability to help students in this way. So if you're struggling with that type of paralysis, the solution might be pretty simple: focus on something that 1: you know you can do and 2: you know solves the problem. #entrepreneurship #startups #venture #innovation #tech #builders #founders #internship #opportunity #experience #founders #students

Learning Through Small Ventures✈️ Embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship isn't a walk in the park. Especially in our youth, numerous obstacles can impede our progress. However, before taking the leap, gaining hands-on experience is invaluable. So, how do we navigate this terrain effectively? In today's landscape, many budding entrepreneurs are building their dreams on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. 📱 These bootstrapped small businesses serve as treasure troves of knowledge and experience. As student entrepreneurs, we are constantly on the lookout for new technologies, market trends, and innovative strategies to implement in our ventures. Joining forces with these small businesses allows us to work directly with their founders, gaining insights and practical skills along the way. Moreover, instead of opting for internships at large firms, where tasks may be monotonous and hours long, joining small businesses offers a unique opportunity. Here, you not only earn but also have the chance to think dynamically, learn new concepts, and implement them. It's a space where your words hold weight, and your ideas are respected. 💼 So, as you ponder your own entrepreneurial journey, consider this: How can we leverage the experiences of small businesses to shape our path to success? 💡 #internship #experience #smallbusiness

I worked with an early-stage startup for over a year in college. Here is why you should too - 1. Gives exposure to multiple domains - you can explore marketing, PR, social media, and product building all at once. 2. Working hours are usually quite chill - you can work whenever you want wherever you want. 3. You take full ownership of the projects you are working on so the contributions are noteworthy. 4. Best place to network with people as the founders are always looking for resourceful people. 5. Gives first-hand insight into the entrepreneurial spirit and how things are built from scratch. In fact, college is the best time to work with a startup as you need limited job security and more experience. So go for it if you still have a chance! #internships #collegelife #startup #entrepreneurship #productdevelopment

Rs 50,000 per month and a founders office role at a startup? This is every startup enthusiasts dream when looking for their first stint. Here's how you can achieve this and work with million dollar startups . Introducing - Startअब A 4- day cohort spread across 2 weeks. What will you get? The real thing. Established startup founders will provide real life business problems that they are themselves trying to solve and you will be a part of their problem solving team. Schedule: 21st Feb: Idea validation 26th Feb: Marketing and branding 1st March: MVP and product development 5th March: The Art of Pitching. And the rules are pretty simple - The top 3 participants will have the opportunity to work directly with these founders as interns. - That's it. Registration Details: Deadline: 20th Feb 2024 Cost: Rs. 149 Registration link: https://lnkd.in/gJ4YaWpF Still, have questions? Just ping me! PS The cohort costs less than your single-day metro commute! 😜 PPS- We go beyond internships, offering an exciting cash prize for dedicated participants. So what's stopping you?

🌟 From Unpaid Intern to Successful Entrepreneur: The Unconventional Path to Success 🚀 🔥 Are you feeling limited by financial constraints in your entrepreneurial journey? Remember, every challenge is an opportunity in disguise. I just shared an essay on embracing unconventional paths like internships and grants to achieve your dreams, despite the hurdles. 💡 "I don't have money to hire." This statement is a familiar scenario in startups. Limited funds? Think creatively! Grants for recent grads can open doors beyond just funding - they're gateways to invaluable learning and growth. 🌱 Also, let's talk about unpaid internships. Controversial, yet potentially game-changing. They are stepping stones to real-world experience, skill enhancement, and professional networking. My journey began as an unpaid intern, and it paved the way for my first job in the industry. 🤝 Collaboration is key in the startup world. By supporting each other, we build an ecosystem of growth and success. Let's not underestimate the power of community in our entrepreneurial pursuits. 💬 Share your thoughts and experiences on navigating these unconventional paths. Let's inspire and learn from each other's journeys! #Entrepreneurship #StartUpLife #CareerGrowth #Innovation #BusinessSuccess https://lnkd.in/dZXBW_Re

Why doing internship in a startup is a wiser choice? ➡️You'll gain hands on experience: Startups generally lead their interns on projects and tasks that have a direct impact on the company which actually seems meaningful. ➡️You tend to develop diverse skill sets: Interns in startups often wear multiple hats, where he/she can gain experience and develop their skillsets in various aspects of business, from production to marketing, which is not possible in specialized roles in established firms. ➡️You'll have close mentorship: In startups, you get chance to work closely with founders and other senior team members which could offer you valuable insights and guidance. (I guess this is the most important of all.) ➡️It provides comfort: Startups often operate in a less rigid and more flexible environment, helping you become more adaptable and comfortable in the work place. ➡️Creates entrepreneurial mindset: Working in a startup can help you develop an entrepreneurial mindset, understanding risk-taking, strategic thinking, and business acumen. Hope this helps! 🙌 Comment your thoughts below. #internship #startup #intern #entrepreneur #business #innovation #workculture #experience

One week left to secure your profile on Catalyst XL's new recruiting platform! Students who sign up now will have access to our first batch of startup internships dropping on Wednesday, January 31st. And if you aren't familiar with the platform, it's as simple as this: students and startups build detailed profiles, and reach out to each other about working together. So if you're an entrepreneurial student interested in working with fast-growing startups, sign up with the link in the comments! And bonus: if you comment on this post why you think more students should pursue startup internships, I will personally review your profile once you sign up and help increase your chances of securing an internship. Good luck and feel free to DM me with any questions! #students #collegestudents #university #recruiting #internship #opportunity #experience #startups #venturecapital #innovation

10 tips for how to make a big impact at your internship this summer: Adjusting to life in the startup and VC fast lane is a shock. Everyone is resource-strapped, time-poor, and the expectations to perform are high. These are the 10 things you need to learn if you want to make a real impact as an intern or associate this summer (especially if you have no clue what you’re doing): 1. Act like an owner - remember that startups and VCs are cash-poor, equity-rich. 2. Be a storyteller - frame and craft the narrative you want people to hear. 3. Manage yourself, up, and down - additional resources are great but can be a burden. Learn to manage yourself, your boss, and your peers. 4. Be urgent, don’t rush - always show you’re taking things seriously, deliver timely, but don’t make mistakes. 5. Ask for forgiveness, not permission - initiative and not having to be asked to do something goes a long way. Anticipate the needs of your team. 6. Be resourceful - Google and your network are your best friends. Start there first. 7. Never ask the same question twice - if you need to, show progress, critical thinking, and frame it a different way. 8. Solutions, not problems - even if you’re not sure it’s right, come with proposed solutions to ANY problem you’re surfacing. 9. Don’t get set up to fail - get crystal clear on what the expectations are and the final product you’re delivering. 10. People treat you the way you let them treat you - confidence is key. Fake it until you make it. Hiring and coaching an intern has been one of the BEST uses of our time and resources this summer for HSR Ventures, and our superstar Jaclyn Kolbert is an example to follow. #nationalinternday #startup #vc #careerdevelopment

Criteria for picking a startup to intern with ✔ - Your Interests: Are they solving a problem you care about? - The Business: Does the business make sense? (what they do, how they do it, and how they make money) - Seriousness: Are the founders genuinely committed? - Culture Fit: Do you get along with the founders? There are some more nitty gritty details to look into, but if the answer to those 4 questions is a big "Yes", most of those details can easily be worked out. However, it's still worth addressing: How do you know if they can pay you or not? There's a number of factors that go into this. Some are the company's stage, how they make money, what type compensation you're willing to accept (equity, commission, salary), and so on. Since I don't have room in a Linkedin post to dive into all of those considerations, I've linked my free guide to startup internships below! Good luck and feel free to DM me with any questions! #entrepreneurship #startups #tech #growth #innovation #internshipopportunity #career #jobs #recruiting #collegestudents