Entering start-up land

By Flurina Heuberger

How many times have I played with the idea of founding a start-up? Especially in study time, students tend to procrastinate and the creativity is at an all-time high. Hours of valuable study time have passed by dreaming about starting the next AirBnB, instead of graduating.

Making most out of our bright minds and founding our own start-up seemed to be the most convenient solution to end our suffering. First of all no need for further studying and no finals, secondly, working for a cause one is passionate about, being your own boss and achieving great success. Sounds like heaven, doesn’t it? There is no lack of – more or less brilliant – ideas, so nothing is stopping us. All one has to do is have the guts and “Go for it”.

However dreaming is an easy thing to do and all those creative imaginary trips ended with going back to our books and not with “Going for it”.

Impact Hub – Heaven

Planning my finals-free summer, I was torn between two options: gain working experience and go ahead with my professional career or travel the world and enjoy the so-called sweet life. Eventually, I came along the Summerpreneurship program at Impact Hub. A summer academy with an innovative learning program linked with an internship at a start-up. Gaining valuable work experience in the start-up world, developing skills, expanding my network all in one and with a fun factor, how couldn’t I be thrilled? There it was, my entrance to heaven.

The possibility of gaining a glimpse of the start-up world, without actually founding my own business (yet), it is just like a three-month trial. An internship within a start-up at Impact Hub could hardly mean getting coffee and making copies – who would waste money on copies if you’re on a low budget?

So I took the chance, filled out the application and “Went for it”.

Boonea AG – My startup

Most probably it was not only my extraordinary application, but also my name – not sure yet if I should thank my parents or hate them – which led to the invitation for an interview with Flurin.

From our Skype-call I could tell that the internship within Boonea AG would not simply focus on the given task but also on my personal development and progress. When addressing my lack of knowledge in marketing and sales, as mechanical engineering student, Flurins response was an optimistic: You will learn. The approach “I profit from you, you profit from me” sold an internship based on collaboration with a minimal risk of getting coffee. Furthermore, the option of having a side project in the MakerZpace was really tempting. The possibility of actually having an impact, gaining experience in a new field and (hopefully) enjoy working sealed the deal.

First week in start-up land

So far I have found my favourite chair. I did master my first task – the blog post. I was introduced to so many Hubbers and slowly but surely I can remember a few names, start-ups and who’s doing what. There are a lot of to-do’s left, I haven’t tasted the cold brewed coffee with Chinotto and I still stutter presenting the value proposition of Boonea AG, but I’ll get there.