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profile
Hi, I’m Justice Dreischor, from Aruba, a beautiful island located in the Caribbean and it is known for its beaches, hotels, and tourism. Most people that visit Aruba are from the US, the NL or other surroundings islands. Of course from all other corners of the world people come as well this beautiful place.
I grew up in a quiet neighbourhood called Tanki Leendert and I have to say that I am very grateful for I growing up over there because it felt like one huge playground. Me and the other kids from the neighbourhood used to spend all day climbing trees, flying kites … even blowing stuff up and a lot more. Still, there were rules that I had to follow like in all households.
Currently I am studying Software Engineering at Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Eindhoven. I am doing this study because ever since I was a kid I have experimenting with computers and helping other people with their systems. Later on during IT internships I fully realised that I wanted to challenge myself and go more in depth with all available technologies.
In the last moments before the minor had to be chosen I was still looking at different minors in Venlo, but most of them were closed and full. Then I remembered I got an email from Fontys Pulsed saying that they are offering a flagship minor in Eindhoven that consists of creativity, entrepreneurship and technology. Remembering that immediately got my attention again because I was looking for something to explore if entrepreneurship is something for me. Also still having the possibility of exploring different technologies was just the cherry on top. So, that is why I have chosen the Embrace TEC as my minor and later on the Business & Entrepreneurship track
expectations
This week we get to know the track ambassador even better and see what expectations they have of the minor and the track.
project
After doing the “Stay at home” challenge we have decided to first discuss our goals and expectations in order to determine if both of us were on the same page. Then after realising we both had similar targets, one of the first steps was to create a second prototype of our concept, based on the feedback we got from the “Stay at home” challenge.
After that we wanted to know more about our target audience by finding out if “KORFBOARD” is something they would use and possibly buy in the future. So, to test this we visited the PSV Korfball club in Eindhoven and gave a presentation and demo of our game: KORFBOARD.
They reacted positively and we got good feedback from the PSV Korfball club and more people wanted to know what KORFBOARD is and what we were doing, so what that’s why we have created a gameplay and an interview video about who we are.
Usertest video: https://youtu.be/hQoFuggglvQ
Interview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrTACKNWQxM
Gameplay video: https://youtu.be/V3LyVT2mJ8o
My goal is to learn and get experience on how to transform a concept into a business and to find out if entrepreneurship is something for me. My goal related to the project itself is to sell the KORBOARD as product and bring joy into other people’s homes.
The thing I enjoyed the most is the adrenaline that I get by going outside of my comfort zone, talking with people and work as it goes.
One thing I'd do different is to be more consistent and have more concrete steps/goals.
deepdive: inspiration
Could you explain the value and the intended learning goals of having these different guest lectures and field trips come to pulsed?
Jochem & Jeroen
track owners
With the input of "real" entrepreneurs all operating at different levels we provide an honest look for students and teachers in the business & entrepreneurship track. These entrepreneurs that contribute to the program consist solo entrepreneurs, initiators of start-ups, entrepreneurs with staff or, for example entrepreneurs within larger companies. And some of them sell products while others sell a service.
These entrepreneurs provide the students with valuable insights, inspiration and, most importantly, actual help in taking the next step during the process student have with getting from a business idea to a realisation of that. What I often see is that these entrepreneurs make their whole network available for the students or that in an organic way a mentorship arises between the student and the entrepreneur.
During one of our entrepreneurship field trips, we had a visit from Bjorn Olaf and his wife, they are the owners of Intelligentia Taste Rooms. Both started an ice cream store that provides not only ice cream but also things like tea, coffee, ice cake etc. This was my favorite business owners because I was inspired about their collaboration and the things, they went through together.
One of the biggest challenges they faced was about separating their work and personal relationship, they have tackled this issue by making sure each person has their own role and prevent interferences between their work. The second challenge they faced was about hiring employees and not knowing much about certain important contract laws, which cost them allot of money. These two challenges gave me the motivation to continue to build a collaboration company and not be afraid to learn by failing or trying something even though you don’t know everything about it.
deepdive: zero to one
Could you explain the 0 to 1 approach within BE track?
Jochem & Jeroen
track owners
For everyone, the zero to one process looks different. It is very often the assumption that you can set up a business through a predefined roadmap with for example 8 steps. Practice often shows and proves that it’s not that easy and that there is more to it, to come to a concrete business that actually makes profit.
With the zero to one approach in the track we ensure that students keep on moving in their own business process but also in their personal growth. They make concrete steps within the topics where their drive and motivation lies. For one student this may be making a prototype and for another it may be getting his target group clear and well defined.
Furthermore, we are focused on finding the shortest way to 'turnover' together. This means that a business plan/pitch is for us a tool to achieve the goal to set up an own business.
The first step I took to realize our business, was to talk with multiple entrepreneurs during the business track field trips and to expose our idea with other students. This gave me more insights from different perspective which made me realized that we have something to work with. Then the next step was about connecting the user target with our business by exposing our idea through social media, website, visiting PSV Korfball club and doing a game day at Fontys for a whole week. Through all these methods we manage to get at least 30 potential customers that are interest in our product. Now our target is to find the right producer that can manufacture our KORFBOARD for the right price, work on our branding and to create a web shop.
deepdive: support
We support our students from material to knowledge and support them in their self-education. Could you explain briefly why and how we do this?
Jochem & Jeroen
track owners
The program is composed of a number of very concrete ingredients/activities with which we build the teaching days. These are: - 90 minute sessions by teachers, - a workbook to make a kickstart per topic yourself, - one-on-one business coaching, - fieldtrips to companies and with entrepreneurs & - guided working time.
We seek a balance between student and teacher driven activities and between improvised & planned offerings. Ultimately, the "movement" the student makes in their learning and realisation process continues to guide who or what is needed in terms of knowledge and skills. Each phase within the track and execution of the minor we work on alignment and challenge ourselves and the students to find the right flow together.
One of my favorite business owners was Chirag Bhasin, he is a brand consultant and the one that built the branding for Fontys Pulsed. From his story I learned many things about branding that I did not know. For example, at first, I thought branding was just a logo or symbol, but it is everything together that represents you or your company. Three important things I have learned from him when creating a brand or a company is about leading with a purpose, having a value proposition, so what do you bring to the table and what do you stand for. Also, I have learned how important a brand can be, for example, sometimes people hate a product but just because they love the brand, they will buy it anyways.
reaction & reflection
coming soon!
