Richard, what inspired you to start your own business?
Richard: What inspired me was a personal consumer want. There was no good local beer available in New England in 1986, and I started my business to help fix this!
And Geoff, what do you find most exciting about working with startups?
Geoff: The thing I love about working with people who are starting a business is that I get all the excitement of starting a business, without all the work! It is exciting seeing businesses and their founders grow and succeed. I also enjoy the variety of people and ideas I get to work with – I learn new things from every person, every time.
What has been your highlight of the Summer Startup programme?
Richard: The highlight for me is interacting with the students and my colleagues. I’m shocked at how well received I’ve been, and how much I like everybody! It’s a great environment. The staff and students have made it easy to become a part of the whole community. That feeling of engagement and connection is really nice.
Geoff: The people. Having people around who are excited about the new businesses they’re creating makes you more enthusiastic and energetic. There is a really good group of diverse students involved, from different areas of study, with a big range of venture ideas - not just all apps, like we used to get!
Finally, what words of wisdom do you pass on to the students?
Richard: As an entrepreneur or a CEO, don’t expect yourself to be the best at everything in your organisation. Your job is to be a visionary and to attract people to your organisation who are better than you are, then synthesise those people. You need to know what you need to know, and find a way to get to that point. Also, remember that people will be critical when you’re starting out, then jump on the bandwagon when you become successful!
Geoff: Just start, and do something. Focus on achieving something, instead of reaching perfection.
Thank you, Richard and Geoff, for sharing your stories and advice with us today, and of course for all the support you provide as mentors!
To join us for an evening of fast-paced pitches from our top ten Summer Startup ventures, register now for your free ticket to the UCE Summer Startup Showcase on February the 4th.
The UCE Summer Startup Programme is a chance for students to work on fast-tracking the development of their ideas into realistic business ventures for 10 weeks over the summer.
For further information please contact:
UC Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE) by emailing: uce@canterbury.ac.nz