The end of Summer Lab – what I learnt along the way:

From entering the Unleash Space without any idea of how to build a business model to leaving it with a confident pitch to professional investors, from not knowing a single soul in the room to becoming friends helping each other grow, it has been an unimaginable summer! I express my huge gratitude to the entire CIE team behind this programme and other participants as well.

I remember going through the online reading lists before the course began, it felt like too much complicated information at once. Jamie told us on the first day that he is gonna stretch our brain over next 6 weeks and gave us an overview of a long list of areas we are gonna cover. Oh, I was so worried back then but today, I can say very confidently, ‘I am confident about everything I have been taught, I have climbed a few stairs of the endless entrepreneurial staircase and I have experienced the bright as well as the harsh realities of entrepreneurship.’

Summer Lab changed my fixed mindset to growth mindset. Having a good idea and team is incredibly important but the power of mindset is above all. Now I embrace changes rather than avoiding challenges, I learn from criticism rather than ignoring negative feedback and persist in the face of setbacks instead of giving up easily.

Summer Lab gave me the experience of working with people from different cultures, areas of study and beliefs. It was very challenging at times because of conflicting opinions but it has helped me build my listening skills, understanding others and patience. It has helped me look at issues from a broader perspective. It’s true that teamwork divides the tasks and multiplies the success. I would have not grown as much as I have without my team members.

The other big realisation was how everyone has an eye for different issues – making bee hives more secure, making asian food more accessible, helping disabled people, making traveling easier, making fashion more affordable and a lot other. Also, a lot of it is through our own experiences. If you wanna make this world a better place, start noticing the problems, big or small, faced by you and others nearby. Join Summer Lab without any doubt, it has got every tool you need to take your idea to another level, literally!

Summer Lab has given me a deep insight into almost every aspect of a business – legal issues by lessons on Intellectual Property and Financial Statements, money issues through lessons on capital raising, social issues by introducing UN Sustainable Development Goals, human issues through working in a team and a lesson on negotiation skills….the list is long. I had never seen a pitch video but now I know what to include in a good pitch to get the investors’ money and access to their helpful network. It has helped me develop an understanding that startup culture isn’t a party as it’s portrayed at times- it’s challenging, you’ll fail, you need to consider a lot of implications but it’s worth it in the end – it’s an incredibly powerful way to change the world. I have realised that we need to be passionate about our idea but be open to changes if required. We are gonna doubt ourselves at different stages but we gotta think logically and not let emotions control our thoughts. Besides knowing how and what, find your why, i.e. your ultimate vision to keep you going through all the hurdles!

By the way, Create and Maker Space is a great facility too to build your own things! I’ll definitely keep coming back to the Unleash Space to feed my hunger for knowledge and creativity. As said by Mark Twain, ‘The secret of getting ahead is getting started’ – yes, Summer Lab was a huge step towards both my entrepreneurial and personal journey!