Alchae Cansana’s Post

New record: most people met in one week (North of 100!) NYC and the United Nations sure forge new connections -- I love it! Writing this as I board my flight to my London hub is almost bittersweet. With so many new faces around, this seemed a good time to re-introduce myself, highlight my work and the mission behind it, and explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership. Plus, share some stories 🌍 Let's dive. 🚀 In short, I believe in the power of young founders and entrepreneurs to take ownership of a problem, rally resources while bringing a new perspective to the table, and get things done. My industry focus changes and so do the things I'm excited about, but the core remains the same. Over the years, I’ve been Head of Projects over at AIESEC in Edinburgh, won a number of startup competitions, led something like a dozen teams from as young as 16, and even founded a game studio at one point (Yep; decided to close up though). Right now, I am: 🔷 Building my startup, Lumi, the 'Learning Layer of AI' to help teams learn and integrate AI software into their workflows -- and currently on the hunt for a CTO 🔶 Working with AIESEC as their Global BD Account Manager, overseeing an international client across 3 initiatives in 2 regions that provide growth opportunities for over 3000 young people to date 🔷 Speak at events and conferences about youth entrepreneurship and impact-driven leadership whenever I get my hands on a mic 🔶 Hold leadership roles across 3 societies, some unannounced, with a focus on providing resources for young entrepreneurs and supporting student careers at The University of Edinburgh. Beyond that, I am also working on my most ambitious venture yet — stay tuned. As you can tell, this is an entire portfolio of roles -- by design. It isn't always easy and takes a lot of good management and prioritisation, but when I see another way to move towards one of my goals, I take it. Collectively, they also teach me more than any one career line would alone. UK is my hub these days (Edinburgh & London), although I'm about as close to world citizen as it gets, having grown up in between Latvia, Russia, Switzerland and more. I travelled and studied abroad for as long as I can remember. I find deep inspiration in meeting people from across the world, and do my best to maintain relationships + take time to form new ones. Plus, I'm an avid traveller 🌐, and do photography 📷 on my journeys as a hobby. 🗒 My experience at EYF-24 prompted me to reflect deeper on what I in fact want to focus on, in the long run. So, I'm in the midst of an at times difficult, but a very necessary realignment of my efforts, and my entire portfolio. And that's me, the roundup, for now! Always happy to take coffee chats (Coffee calls? Sounds great ngl) or talk about any parts of the above. Would love to hear what everyone is working on as of now – never know when a collab opportunity arises!

I’m moving towards a new core thesis — and it’s all about ecosystem creation & systemic change. This is an open letter to myself, my colleagues, and all of the amazing people I’m yet to meet who could become my future partners, likeminded friends and collaborators. People often ask me what is it that I really do. Why am I building several startups, isn’t that awful for focus? And advisory? And other roles? It’s odd It’s new Frankly, untested And I’m doing it from a place of deep conviction. 🌐 Here is what I see happening across the board: ▶ The current pace of change outruns the capacity of our institutions to adapt. ▶ AI in particular advancing faster than we can meaningfully & usefully implement it into our workflows. ▶ Gen Z breaking away from many of our systems while also pushing to transform them. Across all of these, there is a trend — systemic change. Change at a scale that one single company struggles to meaningfully tackle. Organisations, nations, all struggle to keep pace. 👤 On the other hand, here is where I come in: I would best describe myself as a “deep generalist” — being broad IS my specialty, reinforced with several skills I push to their limits of depth. Among these I count storytelling, strategic & systemic thinking, and the ability to transfer expertise across domains, challenges, places and people. Having worked in startups, NGOs, university roles and done corporate internships, I have a good coverage of how different organisations work and solve problems. I am also global to the very heart, and every country is a little bit my own. 🔷 Taken together, I see a colossal opportunity to innovate not just through products, but by nurturing new kinds of systems By bringing founders together By linking resources By creating communities By lifting other founders By actively working to innovate our systems at scale, from education to early careers to global mobility It’s hard I have no blueprint I don’t have the resources to affect something this large all at once Which is why this is a long-term mission, and I will never accomplish it alone. I’m expanding scope. Finding partners. Advising and accelerating other founders. Bringing entrepreneurs and innovators together. Creating spaces & communities. Working on projects whenever I can. 📌 And so this is my emerging thesis — to move towards creating & growing whole ecosystems of projects and people as my North Star. I want to go beyond what I alone can make, and create cascade, systemic effects. If this resonates — we should speak. This is a coalition effort. I’m building links with founders & innovation-aligned organisations worldwide. Let’s work together. Collaboration works magic.

🌟 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻: 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀! 🌟 As the new semester kicks off 🚀, we’re here to help students navigate the ecosystem and discover the incredible student initiatives available in Munich. Our goal is to ensure that students find exactly what they're looking for 🔎. In the upcoming posts, we’ll shine a spotlight on these initiatives—seize this opportunity to deepen your understanding and ignite your entrepreneurial journey! 🔍 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 & 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 Here are three pivotal players driving the investment landscape for students: • TU Investment Club e.V.: This non-profit student organization is dedicated to educating Munich students who are passionate about finance careers and investing in the global financial markets. They provide a platform for learning and growth, helping students develop essential skills and knowledge in the field of finance. 👉 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://tuinvest.de/apply/ ⏰ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: October 31st • Innovis VC: An initiative where startups, students, and investors intersect, Innovis VC aims to empower and connect these three pillars of innovation. Their mission is to foster collaboration and create opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and investors alike. 👉 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/dCS7sG2E ⏰ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: October 27th • Fellow Ventures: This initiative is at the forefront of venture capital, bridging the gap between students and the startup ecosystem. Fellow Ventures offers hands-on experience in investment analysis, portfolio management, and strategic consulting, providing students with the tools and mentorship needed to thrive in the VC landscape. 👉 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/dytq_CtZ 🚀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽? 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱!

You're ambitious, you know? So you secure that grad role in Consulting or PE where you'll work for 2-5 years. You'll learn some tricks of the trade and THEN, maybe, you'll think about founding something or joining a startup team. After all, having that big name on your CV will really open doors down the track, and you can always get into startups later... Sound familiar? So many ANZ graduates are still taking this unwritten path, despite successful founders suggesting they'd join startups earlier if they could redo their careers. Why? Let's unpack this. Full article: https://lnkd.in/g-chBa-G Student Fellowship applications close this coming Monday: https://bit.ly/3x9Pdwh 🎓🌱

🔬🌍 Why Climate Tech's Valley of Death Segmentation Isn't So Straightforward: A Look at University Spinouts Progressing past the first valley of death, which involves transitioning from basic research to the formation of a company and spinning out of a university or laboratory setting, is about more than just securing funding. Founders must overcome a myriad of obstacles, each presenting unique challenges that can hinder progress. Key obstacles for university spinouts include: 1. 🧑🎓 Limited Embedded Entrepreneurship Programs: Not all universities have the infrastructure to support budding entrepreneurs. 2. 🔄 Opaque Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs): Navigating policies and processes can be daunting and time-consuming. 3. 🧑🔬 Access to Facilities and Talent: Assembling the right team with technical, managerial, and entrepreneurial expertise is challenging. 4. ⏰ Time Commitment of Academic Advisors: Balancing research and startup development can be overwhelming. 5. 📝 Complex IP and Equity Agreements: Negotiating spinout deal terms with universities can be lengthy and complex, often taking significant time to finalize. 6. 🧑🤝🧑 Access to Support Services and Infrastructure: Trustworthy mentors, advisors, and professional services are often scarce outside of mature ecosystems. 7. 📈 Developing a Viable Commercial Proposition: Moving from basic research to a marketable product or service requires additional development and proof-of-concept work. 8. 🏛️ Navigating University Processes and Approvals: University stage-gate processes and committee approvals can cause delays in spinning out companies. To manage the spinout process better, founders should focus on several key themes: 1️⃣ Skills: Developing commercial acumen alongside technical expertise is crucial, which can be achieved through training, mentorship, and building a diverse team with complementary skills 2️⃣ Relationships: Understanding and engaging with university policies and processes early on, particularly through close collaboration with the Technology Transfer Office, can streamline negotiations and set clear expectations 3️⃣ Strategy: Thorough preparation is essential, including developing a solid business plan / pitch deck, clearly defining intellectual property and know-how, and considering long-term implications of deal terms 4️⃣ Networks: Leveraging available resources and support services, such as university facilities, networks, and external accelerators or incubators, can provide valuable assistance 5️⃣ Mindset: Maintaining a flexible and open mindset throughout the process, being prepared to negotiate and compromise, and staying informed about various funding options will help founders navigate the complexities of spinning out a company and increase their chances of success 🌱💡 #ClimateTech #ValleyOfDeath #UniversitySpinouts

🚨Applications to the #ArchipelagosProgram are closing soon. Apply now – https://lnkd.in/d4UBc4px The Archipelagos program offers young startups the chance to join a capacity-building opportunity that equips them with skills, mentorship, access to networks and funding for their business growth. Program offerings: - New skills & expertise - Mentorship & guidance - Valuable business connections - Potential collaborations & partnerships - Access to capital for growth Selected startups and SMEs will also receive special platform access for up to 3 key figures within their organization. Young graduates and budding entrepreneurs are also encouraged to apply to boost their academic journey and entrepreneurial skills. Learn more information and apply today : https://lnkd.in/d4UBc4px For questions: [email protected] Developed by CDP Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and funded by the European Commission. Co-implementing partner: Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Collaborator: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with a promising start-up company that was in the process of developing a new product. Interestingly, this product already existed in the market, which raised the question of what advantages they could offer. However, upon further discussion, it became evident that they did not possess any unique advantages over their competitors. What made this situation particularly intriguing was the fact that the individuals behind this start-up were recent college graduates. It was crucial for me to convey to them that this venture was not merely an academic project. Unlike their previous experiences in college, where the primary goal was to please professors and earn good grades, the real world demanded a different approach. In order to succeed, they needed to shift their focus from technology to the market itself. The market is an unforgiving environment that does not care about the degrees one holds or the complexity of their technology. It is indifferent to whether they have borrowed ideas from their colleagues or not. What truly matters is the ability to understand the needs and preferences of the target audience, and to deliver a product that meets those demands effectively. Therefore, it was imperative for these young entrepreneurs to break free from the confines of their college education and examinations, and instead, immerse themselves in the realities of the market. Only then could they truly thrive and make a significant impact in their chosen industry.

Are You a Recent Graduate with a Big Idea? Calling all recent degree holders from overseas universities or IITs! 🌟 Do you have a groundbreaking idea but feel unsupported by your current or recent employer? If they aren’t listening or believing in your vision, it’s time to discuss your idea with us. Rohan Investments, a Canadian company, is inviting fresh startups with innovative and impactful ideas to partner with us. What We Offer: ✅ Seed funding to kickstart your vision. ✅ Mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. ✅ Access to a network of industry leaders and investors. Who Can Apply: 🎓 Recent graduates or professionals with a degree from recognized institutions, including IITs or overseas universities. 💡 Applicants with well-researched, innovative startup ideas and the passion to bring them to life. Don’t let your ideas be overlooked. If you have the drive and determination, we’ll give you the platform to make it happen. 📩

Are you ready to bring your innovative ideas to life and make a real impact on the cities of tomorrow? 💡🚀 Register now for oikos Catalyst: Today’s Action, Tomorrow’s Cities - a pitching competition designed to spotlight startups driving forward the future of sustainable and innovative urban solutions. This exciting competition is created in collaboration with Student Impact, combining a shared mission to foster meaningful change through innovation and entrepreneurship.   Why Participate? Pitch to Top Stakeholders: Share your ideas with a diverse audience of investors, students, and key stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem. Expand Your Network: Meet like-minded innovators, engage with potential collaborators, and build connections that matter. Win Exciting Prizes: Stand a chance to win a prize that will be announced at the end of February. And lastly: there is no application/entry fee!   Details at a Glance: Date: Friday, March 28, 2024 Location: University of St.Gallen Participation Fees: None – it’s completely free! More Information: Visit https://lnkd.in/e4KAmVuK for additional details.   How to Participate: To secure your spot and showcase your ideas, click below 👇 to apply. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to shape the future! https://lnkd.in/exZnhEAn   Please note that applying does not guarantee selection. All applications will undergo a selection process, and shortlisted startups will be contacted by the end of February.   #event #startup #innovation 

🎤 🎉 There are so many awesome things happening in the Atlantic ecosystem, and we are pretty excited to start sharing them with you! 🌎 🚀 Startup Atlantic is starting a monthly round-up of all the amazing things happening in our ecosystem! Our plan is to share updates and resources to help you get connected and navigated. 🤗 We do have one ask though, please be a little patient as we work to make this better and better. We realize some information may be missing at first. If you want to be included or have some feedback, send us a message or (better yet) tag us on your LinkedIn posts! ————————————————— 🎤 Virtual Pitch Competitions 🎤 Volta May 28: Volta Virtual Pitch Competition Powered by Boast (Deadline to apply May 8) Tribe Network May 23: Innovate & Elevate Pitch Competition (Deadline to apply May 5) ————————————————— 👯 Networking Events👯 Atlantic FinTech Fintech SOCIAL: Maritime Tour! with Fintech Cadence Fredericton, May 7 Charlottetown, May 8 Sydney, May 9 Dalhousie AI Symposium May 9: First Dalhousie AI Symposium Dal Innovates May 9: Immigrant Women Entrepreneurship Network Event IGNITE Atlantic May 16 & 22: Welcome to Spring Networking Social Startup Zone PEI & Tribe Network May 2: Tribe Network Roadshow to PEI The PIER at the Seaport May 15: Ocean Industry Networking Event Springboard Atlantic Inc. May 8 & 29: 20th Anniversary Showcase (Venn in NB and NFLD) Volta May 22: Campfire Connections Social ————————————————— 📖 Training & Educational Workshops 📖 ACENET Canada May 1 - May 21: Training in Introduction to Programming, Basics of Computers, Introduction to HPC / Linux / Shell Scripting, and more! Atlantic FinTech May 15: How to Grow: Building out Your Payments and Fintech Strategy May 29: The Art of the Sale in High-Stakes Banking and Breaking Entry Barriers CDL-Atlantic May 15: CDL Nurture Spinout Series: How to Think About Financing a Spinout in Canada CEED May 22: Show Me the Money! Funding Your Startup May 30: Ask The Expert, Key Decisions for Women Entrepreneurs Ignite (NB) & Planet Hatch May 2 & 21: Business Basics May 8: Marketing Basics May 11: Managing your Digital Footprint IGNITE Atlantic May 2: Igniting Women in Business Speaker Series May 7: Connect, Converse & Cash In: Mastering money mindset, communication and networking Springboard Atlantic Inc. May 14: Building an IP Portfolio for CleanTech May 16: IP Strategies for AI Life Science Companies Volta May 2: Leveraging Partnership with Universities to Achieve your R & D Goals May 29: Innovate, Calculate, Elevate! Venn Innovation May 22: NB Privately Owned Businesses: Public Funding Roundtable & Pitch Powered by Dovico ————————————————— 🤷♀️ If you need a recap on who and what Startup Atlantic is, click this link to see our slide deck!💡 https://lnkd.in/gcU4CDRP