William Hurst’s Post

Brand Building and Innovation (2/2) I love working with startups and scale-ups. I told you yesterday, attending TNW (The Next Web) in Amsterdam for the third time reinforced how closely brands and innovation are intertwined. It’s never too early for young ventures to build a strong brand. Here’s why working with startups is so exciting: 💥 Rapid Growth: Immediate impact and quick pivots in a dynamic environment. 💥 Creative Freedom: Fewer limitations encourage fresh ideas and innovative branding. 💥 Direct Access to Founders: Facilitates clear communication and understanding of the brand’s vision. 💥 Diverse Challenges: Keeps work engaging and helps develop a broad skill set. 💥 Impactful Contribution: Directly influences the company’s future trajectory. 💥 Collaborative Culture: Values teamwork and an inclusive environment, fitting well with my methodologies. Working with young companies enhances their visibility and profoundly impacts their perspective on the world 🎯 💹 If you have a startup seeking high visibility, call me. I’ve got solutions for you! Let’s get to know each other 📲 https://lnkd.in/d5V5HB9E

Excited to share insights from my recent externship at HP Tech Ventures partnered through Extern! During this immersive experience, I had the opportunity to dive deep into the analysis of 6 Series A startups, exploring their market strategy and competitive landscape in the realm of sustainability. Deep Dive into Series A Startups: Conducted in-depth analysis on 6 Series A startups, examining their offerings, target markets, and growth trajectories. Market Strategy Evaluation: Explored each startup's market strategy, assessing factors like product positioning, target audience, and go-to-market approach. Competitive Landscape Assessment: Investigated the competitive landscape surrounding each startup, identifying key competitors, market share dynamics, and differentiation strategies. Strategic Insights: Uncovered actionable insights to inform strategic decision-making, including potential areas for differentiation, market expansion opportunities, and risk mitigation strategies. Future Outlook: Leveraging this analysis, I'm excited to contribute to shaping effective market strategies and driving competitive advantage in the sustainability-focused startup ecosystem. #HPExternship #CorporateVenture #BusinessAnalytics #SustainabilityFocus #MarketStrategy #CompetitiveLandscape #SeriesAStartups

🌟 What are the main things I learned after 2 weeks working at Novable? As you probably know, I’ve recently joined the incredible Novable team as a Growth Hacking Intern. These past two weeks have been an eye-opening journey into the dynamic world of #startupscouting and the transformative impact of corporate-startup partnerships. Here are a few insights and positive aspects I’ve discovered so far: 🔍 Working alongside passionate professionals, I’ve seen firsthand how startups bring fresh ideas and agile solutions to the table. These collaborations are not just about finding new technologies, but about fostering a culture of continuous innovation within larger organisations. 🤝 Corporate-startup partnerships create a win-win scenario. Corporations gain access to cutting-edge technologies and innovative approaches, while startups benefit from the resources, mentorship, and market reach that established companies provide. It’s inspiring to witness this symbiotic relationship drive meaningful progress. 🚀 The synergy between corporate expertise and startup agility accelerates problem-solving and brings products to market faster. 🌐 Global reach ensures that our clients can access a diverse pool of talent and innovative solutions tailored to their specific needs. 💡 Helping corporations navigate the startup ecosystem to find the perfect partners is incredibly rewarding. It’s all about empowering businesses to stay ahead of the curve and drive sustainable growth through strategic innovation. I’m excited to continue this journey and contribute to building impactful partnerships that shape the future of industries. If you’re interested in learning more about how corporate-startup collaborations can drive innovation, let’s connect. #corporateinnovation #openinnovation #corporateventuring #framework #ventureclienting #businessgrowth #collaboration

Reflecting on the Pathways to Tech Event Week II - A Headstarter Experience This has been an incredible week. On August 1st, I was honored to attend the Pathways2Tech event, where we heard from some truly remarkable speakers: Dennis Crowley, Tariq Ahmed, Julian Alvarez, and Hamza Ali. Each of them offered unique insights that sparked new ideas and motivation. 🔑 Dennis Crowley - Founder of Foursquare ($150M Revenue) Dennis shared a powerful insight: "Companies are bought, not sold." He emphasized that acquisition opportunities typically arise when a company is thriving, not when it’s on the market. As founders, we should focus on building sustainable businesses rather than merely aiming for a sale. He pointed out that many startups fail because people often give up—whether on the venture or themselves. He also highlighted the importance of focus and creativity in engineering, stating that the best engineers can navigate ambiguity and innovate without needing exhaustive specifications. 🔑 Tariq Ahmed - First Engineer AppLovin ($30Bn IPO) Tariq brought an intriguing perspective on the future of software engineering. He noted that it’s not just about coding; it’s about collaboration and understanding customer needs. Quoting “Chaos is a ladder,” he reminded us that adaptability in uncertain situations is invaluable. He also addressed imposter syndrome, suggesting that it can drive us toward continuous improvement. With AI tools advancing, the ability to leverage them effectively will set successful engineers apart. 🔑 Julian Alvarez 🚀 - Ex-Meta and CEO of Wisdolia ($20K+ MRR) Julian encouraged us to detach from our ideas and invest our optimism in our teams. He wisely stated, "The only real failure is the failure to learn." Embracing our mistakes as learning opportunities is essential for growth. He defined potential as a combination of who we aspire to be and what we wish to contribute to the world. 🔑 Hamza Ali - CEO of Olostep Hamza inspired us to take initiative in our careers. He emphasized the importance of being proactive, seizing opportunities, and voicing our opinions. Those who can operate independently without needing constant direction are highly valued in any industry. #AI hashtag #Headstarter #SoftwareEngineering #ComputerScience #DSA #Interview #YCombinator #Startup #Determined #Growth #Perseverance #Mindset

Here’s what I see happen a lot with early stage startups - There’s excitement and haste to get a product to market. Team members work independently, handling tasks informally and expeditiously, as they see fit. They build something that works, albeit incongruently, and replicating the formula becomes difficult. No one has a firm understanding of the best approach, and/or how to repeat it. When that company grows and more people join the team, this becomes unsustainable, and the product suffers. You’re trapped in a web of individual methodologies. The way to avoid this is by establishing good processes from the beginning, ensuring tasks are performed efficiently and consistently. This creates uniformity in production, and provides a clearer way to evaluate success, as well as error. All companies should have a framework in place to keep their teams aligned when launching a new initiative, or any significant endeavor. When everyone knows how things should be done, there's less time wasted on trial and error, and less confusion about responsibilities. You create a blueprint for how to handle increased volume or complexity without sacrificing quality or efficiency.

⏰ Last Call! Today is the final deadline to apply for the SPEAR Accelerator! 🚀 Don’t let this chance slip by—transform your startup with hands-on support and resources to scale up. Apply now and make your vision a reality! 🌟 👉 www.SPEARAccelerator.com #SPEARAccelerator #DeadlineToday #StartupSuccess #Innovation

From Spectator to Participant: Navigating the Choppy Waters of a Startup I thought I knew what startups went through from documentaries, articles, and LinkedIn posts. But nothing prepared me for the real experience of weathering a storm at our company. It felt like being on a sinking ship, where you're one of the few with the knowledge and responsibility to keep it afloat. As a software R&D engineer, my role was to enhance the accuracy of our key algorithms alongside my fantastic team: Shi Hao Teh, Wee Tee Aik, Win Xi and Aaron lee and guided by our supportive managers Mr. Kok Hoong Tan and Mr. Ng Adrian. Also special thanks to Vernice Lau. This challenging period taught me invaluable lessons: 1. Divide and conquer: Split big problems into smaller, manageable pieces. 2. Communicate openly: Don't hesitate to raise a flag if you're stuck. It saves 3. everyone's time in the long run. 4. Back to basics: Always ensure your fundamentals are correct. 5. Prioritize strategically: Step back, look at the bigger picture, and identify the team's priorities before diving in. 6. Perseverance is key: Sometimes, resilience can be more valuable than hard skills. Even though I'm relatively new to this world, I'm grateful for this unforgettable experience. It's shaped my perspective and approach to problem-solving in ways I never expected. Have you faced similar challenges in your startup journey? I'd love to hear your stories and lessons learned. Let's connect and share our experiences! #StartupLife #SoftwareEngineering #LessonsLearned #Resilience

I recently came across a discussion asking if the startup world has become too stale and mundane. It got me thinking, and I have to agree to some extent. Some people seem to be focusing on creating variations of existing solutions. It's like a never ending cycle of building a product to help someone build a product…to help someone ELSE build a product. Where's the genuine passion and excitement? Why build something you wouldn’t sink your life into? You should build for a world you want to impact. Forget about chasing trends or creating superficial solutions. Instead, focus on building something that resonates deeply with you and addresses a real need in the world. Build something you're truly passionate about and couldn't imagine life without... #StartupLife #PassionFirst

Happy New Year LinkedIn! Today we explore the vital role of innovation and creativity in shaping startup culture. Uncover how fostering a diverse, idea-rich environment can transform challenges into opportunities for groundbreaking solutions. Learn why embracing a mindset of continuous improvement, celebrating diverse perspectives, and viewing failure as a learning tool are key to driving creativity and innovation. Join us in discussing how startups can cultivate a culture that not only values but thrives on innovative thinking and creative problem-solving. #startupculture #innovation #creativity #businessgrowth

I've learned one crucial lesson: in early-stage startups, you don't have the luxury of hiring dedicated experts - you become the expert! Every day, I juggle roles from coding to decision-making and beyond. This journey has been a relentless pursuit of learning, adapting and a fair share of failures. The path is full of challenges, but each one brings the opportunity to innovate and grow. When you don't have the answers you roll up your sleeves, burn the midnight oil and go find them. Learn to experiment, think outside the box and most importantly learn how to iterate. It is thrilling to be part of building something from the ground up and seeing a grand vision come to life. To my fellow startup adventurers: embrace the chaos and diversity of your role. In the absence of experts, learn how to become one. Let's continue learning, growing, and building something extraordinary. 🚀 #StartupLife #TechEnthusiast #Innovation #LearningJourney