Keeping Up With Edventures: October 2024

Photo by Alexander Zahari

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Dear Edventures community,

This issue of Keeping Up With Edventures is published later in the month than our usual routine, simply because of wrapping up the travels around Asia and Europe, while also finding time for other necessary work in between. October was great fun though, perhaps because I initiated the Edventures Startup Conference Tour and got to travel a lot, but also because I bounced back and managed to find two new hungry and talented engineers to join the Edventures team.

This month’s issue is a long one, so if you’re in a hurry, below are the highlights of October.

TL;DR

• Signed a new fullstack engineer, as well as a new AI engineer, thereby closing the recruitment processes for these two roles.
• Submitted application for Eureka Innowwide market feasability project funding together with JA Philippines
• Submitted application for Echoing Green 2025 Fellowship
• Attended GITEX Global and Expand North Star in Dubai between 13-16 October
• After Dubai, went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 18-24 October. Met with potential customer, JA Malaysia, as well as personal friends
• From Kuala Lumpur, I continued to Singapore, to attend SWITCH between 28-30 October
• Met with a new, potential customer in Singapore, JA Singapore, along with a personal friend, and also one of our new hires, Zhen Hong
• From Singapore I headed to Greece (Halkidiki) for a week of recharging ahead of Web Summit
• Product Designer role remains unassigned, but is at tail end of discussions with a handful of strong candidates

Before We Begin: A Perspective From Last Month’s Newsletter

As I sent out the September newsletter in early October, I received a reply from one of our subscribers, pointing out a perspective I think is worth addressing in this month’s edition. Below you’ll see the subscriber’s email in full:

Alexander,

It’s puzzled to see that you have the means to fund extensive world travel (Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Greece, and Lisbon) but are unable to retain the best engineer you’ve ever worked with.

While I understand some of your travel expenses will be offset by a program you’re fortunate to be a part of, we both know there will still be significant out-of-pocket costs.

And beyond the financials, what about the time this takes away from execution and focusing on getting the pilots launched?

I can’t help but feel that perhaps your priorities are a bit misaligned. I imagine Abreham might feel the same.

Just my two cents. In any case, safe travels and enjoy your adventures!

I felt like this was a perspective that others might share so I thought it is worth addressing and providing more context, as well as take the opportunity to share a bit more about myself, my character and my abilities:

Hi Matthew, Thanks for your two cents, and for sharing a perspective which others may share.

I’ve been travelling since 2019 on a very tight budget, which has taught me many valuable lessons on how to be frugal when travelling. This trip is no different.

By a combination of Couchsurfing (Kuala Lumpur and Singapore), staying at a friend’s place (in Dubai), and at the family apartment in Greece, as well as finding cheap flights, I make it possible to go on this tour.

The money spent on the tour is not that significant and is not a number that would greatly impact the financial needs of Abreham.

Regarding taking time from execution. On this trip I’ll actually get to meet, face to face, some of the customers were in talks with, which I believe will build more trust and also speed up their decision making process to getting the pilots launched. Keep also in mind that the organisations we’re talking to are within the education sector, so speedy decisions aren’t their strong suit.

In Dubai and Singapore, I’ll meet with potential new customers, and in Kuala Lumpur one we’re already in talks with. On top of this, the programmes we’ve been accepted to for the conferences in Singapore and Lisbon work to facilitate more introductions to new potential customers, while also putting us in touch with potential investors.

I hope this makes sense and clearly addresses the concern of misaligning priorities.

From day one of founding Edventures, I’ve embraced a mindset of frugality, balancing my journey as both a student and an entrepreneur. This dual experience has honed my ability to stretch every cent and uncover value in even the most limited resources. Building Edventures without external investment - relying solely on my personal savings combined with student-funding - has further instilled in me the resourcefulness needed to navigate challenges and keep pushing forward. Every obstacle has been an opportunity to think creatively and find innovative solutions, a mindset that continues to drive me and the mission of Edventures.

As someone deeply committed to building an impactful platform to democratise entrepreneurship, I’ve learned that being resourceful is not just a skill—it’s a way of life. In this instance, my ability to fund a global tour on a tight budget demonstrates creative problem-solving as well as great money management. By utilising Couchsurfing, meeting up with and staying with friends, and choosing uncomfortable but affordable flights, I turned what might seem an extravagant trip into a practical and cost-effective opportunity.

Engaging in Couchsurfing since 2019 has been more than a cost-saving measure - it’s been a enhancing experience that has shaped my character in many meaningful ways. Living with and learning from hosts around the world has fostered adaptability, cultural awareness, and an openness to new perspectives - qualities that are invaluable in both life and entrepreneurship. Each connection made through Couchsurfing has taught me the importance of trust, mutual respect, and genuine human connection. These experiences have not only expanded my global network but have also cultivated a mindset of collaboration and empathy, which translates directly into what culture I want to create and nurture at Edventures, as well as how I approach challenges and opportunities in my entrepreneurial journey. Couchsurfing is more than just an app; it’s a philosophy and community of resourcefulness, community-building, and shared growth.

More importantly, this trip isn’t just about travel; it’s about execution and strategy. Meeting potential customers face-to-face, engaging with organisations we’re already in talks with, and participating in programmes designed to foster new connections are all actions directly aligned with my mission to grow awareness about Edventures and to meet new customers. These are the calculated risks and moves required to build trust, strengthen relationships, and open doors to new opportunities—actions that embody the vision and tenacity crucial to entrepreneurship. By being accepted into the Eureka Investment Readiness Programme (EIRP), the opportunity to go to Singapore and Lisbon was all upside, as the potential downsides were greatly mitigated. It would’ve been foolish to pass on these opportunities, if you ask me.

Moreover, by explaining my decisions in a context, I aim to ensure that those who follow Edventures understand the intent behind my actions. This approach, I believe, reflects resilience and the ability to stay grounded, even when faced with scepticism. To me, being an entrepreneur isn’t just about making decisions; it’s about standing by them, learning from them, and using every experience to build momentum toward your goals. This is how I approach the challenges and opportunities that shape the journey of Edventures.

October: A Month of Travels and Networking

The beginning of October was full of interviews, and these lead to me signing Aadarsh as our new Fullstack Engineer. Later in the month I finalised the process also for our AI Engineer as we signed Zhen Hong. Both Aadarsh and Zhen Hong are great talents, attending IIT Madras, India and NUS, Singapore, two of the most prestigious and competitive universities throughout Asia.

Aadarsh is a final-year, data science student from IIT Madras who wrote his first line of code at age 16. He has since then grown into a full-stack developer with six years of experience taking applications from idea to deployment. As a frequent hackathon participant—and winner—he has developed an impressive portfolio of innovative products. These include a music streaming platform with advanced authentication and task automation, a secure password vault app leveraging biometrics and encryption, and a catalogue digitizer tool designed to streamline e-commerce processes across multiple languages. His ability to create impactful, user-centred applications showcases his technical expertise and problem-solving mindset, which will be of great value here at Edventures.

Zhen Hong is a third-year, computer science student at NUS Singapore, pursuing a minor in entrepreneurship. An active participant in the university’s computer science and entrepreneurship communities, Zhen Hong has contributed to impactful projects, such as developing AI-powered platforms for data insights, journaling, and document retrieval. Through his work, he has demonstrated expertise in integrating advanced technologies like Neo4j, LangChain, and OpenAI, as well as a strong foundation in backend and frontend frameworks. With experience in competitive startup programs and industry internships, Zhen Hong combines technical proficiency with entrepreneurial initiative, making him a valuable addition to our team. I had the great pleasure of meeting him while in Singapore, where his passion for driving social change and creating meaningful impact stood out, alongside a creative and resourceful problem-solving approach that was truly inspiring.

Both Zhen Hong and Aadarsh are two highly competitive and skilled engineers, and I’m truly excited to have them joining Edventures. Their joining also means Edventures continues on the path of attracting talents that are young, talented, and hungry, but also have some relevant and good enough experience to tackle the challenges we face.

The Edventures Startup Conference Tour 2024

Dubai & Abu Dhabi, UAE 🇦🇪

October was also the month for the start of the startup conference tour. First stop was Dubai, where I attended GITEX and Expand North Star. Dubai was interesting to visit as it was my first time there. I was lucky to be staying with a friend there, who showed me around Dubai, and also Abu Dhabi, while also providing me with tips and tricks to get around Dubai.

GITEX and Expand North Star were both giant events. GITEX is labelled “the world’s largest tech event” and rightfully so. But, because of this, it’s also incredibly difficult to get your message across. At GITEX I was “only” a visitor, so I had no inside track for connecting with potenital partners and investors, and I felt disconnected quite quickly. This affected also the potential outcomes of the event itself, and my focus shifted more toward Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Kuala Lumpur & Langkawi, Malaysia 🇲🇾

After Dubai, I flew to Kuala Lumpur for a few days of work and sightseeing before heading to Singapore. In Kuala Lumpur I met with JA Malaysia, an organisation that I’ve been in touch with for some time and finally got to meet with in person. I also had the great pleasure of meeting up with two fellow JA Alumni members living in Kuala Lumpur, Shie Xian and Yu Xuan, who showed me around the city over the weekend. After Kuala Lumpur I stayed in Malaysia but went to Langkawi to get a day and a half of sun and sea before heading to the bustle in Singapore.

Singapore, Singapore 🇸🇬

I left Malaysia to settle in Singapore for a week to attend the second out of three tech conferences on this tour, SWITCH - Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology. Edventures’ attendance here was a part of the Eureka delegation, to which they’d selected 39 startups from all over Europe based on the relevance and quality of the startups, of which Edventures was one.

To be honest, SWITCH didn’t quite live up to expectations. While there were many incubators and accelerators from across Asia showcasing their startups and the programmes they offer, which could eventually be valuable connections given that this segment aligns with Edventures’ expansion strategy, it didn’t offer much at our current stage. For us, approaching incubators and accelerators is more of a secondary step, as we’re currently focused on entrepreneurship programmes within an educational context. Additionally, SWITCH didn’t facilitate any curated introductions or meetings with key people or organisations that aligned with our interests. Given that we were exhibitors and part of the Eureka delegation, a partner to Enterprise Singapore who arranges SWITCH, aimed at strengthening ties between Singapore and Europe, we had expected at least some basic level of support in this regard. There’s definitely room for improvement in this area from SWITCH’s side.

Also, although I had researched and reached out to 20-30 something potential investors and business angels in the weeks leading up to Singapore, I found it very difficult to get a reply from them, and obviously even more so to meet with them. This, of course, comes down to multiple factors, but a combination of investment focus/thesis, timing, and traction I believe were the main ones.

That said, the opportunity to be in Singapore, meet friends, immerse myself in the innovation ecosystem, and make valuable connections during my stay was incredibly worthwhile. Being on-site in Singapore also allowed me to meet with JA Singapore, and we had a promising conversation about a project that would help speed up our product development. However, it’s early days, and more on this to come. I’m especially grateful to the Eureka Network for covering the expenses for participation, flights and accommodation, which made this experience possible.

In Singapore, as well as in Kuala Lumpur, I was hosted by Couchsurfing hosts. Both hosts, Rohan and Clement, were very generous and lived up to the essence of what Couchsurfing is about - sharing, curiosity, and exchange. I’m really grateful to have made two new friends while also being offered a base in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore respectively.

Having spent close to two weeks in Malaysia and Singapore, I headed back to Europe and Greece on the last day of October, to settle in the family apartment in Halkidiki for a while.

What’s in the pipeline for next month?

The conference tour continues in November, to Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, with a longer layover in Greece. November also holds positive news on the Product Designer role, and I’ll give you a summary of the full tour, lessons learned, connections made, and more!

On that note, I want to thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing more updates with you next month!

Stay foolish, stay ambitious!

Alexander and the Edventures team