Omkar Chetty, MBA’s Post

After 3 team changes, 5 ideas pivoted, and only 4 weeks left until the pitching day, I made the difficult decision to quit the VC-backed route to building a startup. Should I have pushed it a little further, tried a little harder to secure that pre-seed $x Antler funding? Yes. Building a SaaS B2B product from scratch is tough. You need money upfront to do certain things. You need a clear structure to achieve certain milestones in the early stage. You need mentors, coaches and a high-achieving environment conducive to building something ambitious. And you need someone who has an extensive network to help open doors for you. Antler could provide most of this. But no. We figured what we actually need is more time to refine our idea and validate the problem before knowing what we'd use VC money for. We aren't sure if finding the next unicorn idea is even the right approach to growing a project so infant and a team so young. We realized building a startup at crazy scale and speed is not for everyone, and certainly not for a normal guy like me at this stage. However, time spent at Antler was in the least wasteful and I didn't leave empty-handed. I found a cofounder I genuinely enjoy working with despite our different yet complementary backgrounds, personalities and skillsets. Tan Phan, who is my techy co-founder (interestingly both RMIT alumni, same age), and I found something we both really liked to work on and build for the world. We will be dedicating our next couple of months trying to validate the problems we want to solve with NeurAct, a knowledge management solution for startups and enterprises which I will cover more in following posts. Now what? Back to reality. Validate the problem and understand the customers. Knowledge management. For startup teams and companies. To optimize productivity. And drive innovation. To do that, I'm going to start with the Antler alumni network and Antler's portfolio companies. If you're reading this as my Antler cohort fellows and extended Antler alumni family, allow me to buy you a coffee to get to know you and your problem better. Book a coffee time with me and @tan here: https://lnkd.in/gHJT5CSg

My Journey with Antler Ends Here After 8 weeks of intensive learning and relentless work, my journey with Antler has come to an end. Although I couldn’t secure funding from Antler, I’ve achieved the objectives I set out from the beginning: learning and growing. Here’s what I gained from this incredible experience: ✅ Pitching & Presentation Skills: With zero knowledge of the existence of VCs and startup funding, I now know everything I need to prepare for the future. I learned what's most valuable for a startup and how VCs think. I used to have heavy breathing during public speaking, but it's getting easier now after constantly pitching through three bootcamps and two Pre-IC events. ✅ Networking: The program pushed me out of my comfort zone. As an employee, I didn't talk to many strangers online. But I needed to find my team and validate ideas with people around the globe. It was super fun learning from experts' insights. Also, it was a pleasure meeting such talented and entrepreneurial people in the cohort. Now I know where to book a staycation or find software to manage people effectively. ✅ Mindset: This is super important for any startup founder. Startups are hard, and rejection is always there. My mentality strengthened pitch after pitch. Say no to quitting until the market proves you wrong. That happens to both non-funded and funded startups. Pick what you learn, pivot, and learn again. While this chapter closes, I’m excited to apply these insights to future endeavors. Thank you, Antler, for the opportunity!

12 weeks ago we tied the knot: Ella and I officially started building our startup at Antler. Today, I want to recap what my experience has been like. As I'm finishing my journey at the pre-seed VC Antler, people have been curious about my experience, prompting me to reflect and share my thoughts. With locations all over the globe, Antler follows a simple model: apply, get selected, and embark on a journey to build your startup. If they love what you've built, Antler invests in your startup. But what really happened behind the scenes? 💡 My highlights: 👉 Meeting bright minds: The best part of the experience, by far, was meeting a spunky, energetic and diverse group of brilliant individuals, expanding my network and opening doors to collaboration. If you’re reading this: I‘m so glad to have met you! 👉 Put your comfort zone far out of sight: Even just 6 months ago, I would have called you crazy if you had told me what I do on a day-to-day now. Really being taken out of my comfort zone was long overdue and allowed me to foster personal and professional growth. 👉 Accelerated learning: In a span of 2.5 months, my brain processed a year's worth of information because it was constantly thinking “What next?”. I appreciated Antler's approach of gradually guiding founders through the program, starting with small tasks, hands-on support, and short deadlines. Joining Antler: to do or not to do? ✅ Consider joining if you: 1️⃣ Are actively seeking a co-founder and wish to explore collaborations before launching. 2️⃣ Can independently and proactively structure your workflows and build a startup without relying solely on Antler's investment. 3️⃣ Have an understanding or quick adaptability to learning about startups and their operations. ❌ Think twice about joining if you: 1️⃣ Lack a genuine desire to build a startup (it's a significant, full-time sacrifice). 2️⃣ Solely pursue the investment, as conditions might not align with your expectations. But don’t worry - my journey with Ella and EIRA is not over. On the contrary, we are just getting started and are ready to launch our product in the coming weeks. We are excited to show you what has been brewing behind the scenes! 🚀

🚀 Our founders are sharing learnings from their Antler journey

12 weeks ago we tied the knot: Cristina and I officially started building our startup at Antler. Today, I want to recap what my experience has been like. As I'm finishing my journey at the pre-seed VC Antler, people have been curious about my experience, prompting me to reflect and share my thoughts. With locations all over the globe, Antler follows a simple model: apply, get selected, and embark on a journey to build your startup. If they love what you've built, Antler invests in your startup. But what really happened behind the scenes? 💡 My highlights: 👉 Meeting bright minds: The best part of the experience, by far, was meeting a spunky, energetic and diverse group of brilliant individuals, expanding my network and opening doors to collaboration. If you’re reading this: I‘m so glad to have met you! 👉 Put your comfort zone far out of sight: Even just 6 months ago, I would have called you crazy if you had told me what I do on a day-to-day now. Really being taken out of my comfort zone was long overdue and allowed me to foster personal and professional growth. 👉 Accelerated learning: In a span of 2.5 months, my brain processed a year's worth of information because it was constantly thinking “What next?”. I appreciated Antler's approach of gradually guiding founders through the program, starting with small tasks, hands-on support, and short deadlines. Joining Antler: to do or not to do? ✅ Consider joining if you: 1️⃣ Are actively seeking a co-founder and wish to explore collaborations before launching. 2️⃣ Can independently and proactively structure your workflows and build a startup without relying solely on Antler's investment. 3️⃣ Have an understanding or quick adaptability to learning about startups and their operations. ❌ Think twice about joining if you: 1️⃣ Lack a genuine desire to build a startup (it's a significant, full-time sacrifice). 2️⃣ Solely pursue the investment, as conditions might not align with your expectations. But don’t worry - my journey with Cristina and EIRA is not over. On the contrary, we are just getting started and are ready to launch our product in the coming weeks. We are excited to show you what has been brewing behind the scenes! 🚀

Applications for Antler Australia’s 12th cohort - starting August 5th, are now open! From business leaders to technologists and aspiring entrepreneurs, Antler helps launch and scale startups and invest at the earliest stage - pre-idea, pre-team, Pre-Seed.  Why Apply? 🤝 Personalised Mentorship: Learn from the best in the business through Antler’s advisor network of 600 leading operators, sector-focused communities, and our monthly socials across our locations 🌏 Global Network: Antler operates across six continents to help founders launch and scale high-potential startups that address meaningful opportunities and challenges. 🚀 Funding Opportunities: Antler provides a capital pathway from Pre-Seed to Series C, whether it be follow-on investment or leveraging their top-tier VC connections worldwide 🙌 Comprehensive Support: Whether it’s pre-idea, pre-team, or pre-seed, Antler backs the best founders from the beginning, helping them with co-founder matching, deep business model validation, initial capital, expansion support, and follow-on funding, and continues to support them for the life of their business. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gmGzgjw6 Know someone who could be the next big thing in tech? Tag them or share this post!

Day 2 at Antler: it's all about increasing surface luck. 87 people in a fish tank trying to find a co-founder? That can feel like a pretty weird, Tinder-like, overwhelming experience. It's pretty clear now that it's about increasing surface luck, which comes down to this for me: 1. System Combining 87 excited brains is exponential, so having a system to keep track of all interactions is super important 2. Authenticity Being authentic is key and it's a natural filter and I can't spend 5-10 years working with someone if I'm not true to myself. 3. Preparation Clearly and consistently pitching who I am, what I like and my ideas is super important to avoid confusion and wasted time. 4. Go deep quickly Bouncing ideas with a stranger can easily turn into an unproductive coffee chat. Whereas picking an idea and trying to go as deep as possible in 20mns requires some vulnerability and is very powerful. 5. Openness Essentially the Antler process is about narrowing down from 87 to 1. But remaining open is super important to keep the "luck factor" high. 6. Connecting people A very asymmetrical power is connecting various people with any interest or expectation. No doubt some will do the same which could be decisive. 7. Intensity There's no way around it: the more people I try to work with, the more opportunities will come-up. Volume of interactions matter. Alright, on to day 3 now! #startups #founders

If you're looking to grow your career quickly, consider working for a well-run, growing startup. To maximize your chances of success, prioritize startups with repeat founders that are well-funded. One of the most rewarding experiences in my life has been seeing employees' lives improve dramatically as the company grows! Joining a startup at the right time can be a game-changer for your career and personal growth. #careeradvice #personalgrowth

🔥It’s Hot Take Thursday 🌶️ Analysis Paralysis is the destroyer of startup culture Did you know that ideation is the foundation of all startups? It all comes before the MVP and well before maturity It’s part of the reason I joined this wild world of innovation, opportunity, and layoffs But once you remove the foundation that is ideation… You lose Your house of cards crumbles to the ground just like so many others 1️⃣See problems and opportunities 2️⃣Brainstorm around the problems you identify 3️⃣Do research to test your assumptions about the market and your idea ✨Bonus: Have fun and learn So if you’re a startup, let ideation be the foundation for which you grow Make changes, break things…and don’t let over analyzing be the baseline for every decision Otherwise, you’ll never make any #analysisparalysis

🏴☠️One day left to apply to our Fall Batch (late deadline)! 🏴☠️ Do you want to launch a startup that competes on a global scale? Join a batch of like-minded founders who are revolutionizing their industry. This next Hook Batch is a 3-month acceleration program that helps early-stage founders from day one. During this program you will : 1️⃣ Be part of an intensive program made to accelerate and challenge your growth. 2️⃣ Get access to a network 🧑🤝🧑 relevant to your industry. 3️⃣ Get 50,000 EUR 💰 from day one and get access to the Hook investors network! 📅 Batch kick's off on the 24th of October ! Hook is a family of builders. Coding and building products fast is in our DNA 🧬. Join our community today. The link 🔗 to apply in the comments section 👇. 🏴☠️At Hook, we don't break the rules, we rewrite them. 🏴☠️ #Startups #accelerator #founders #venturecapital