5 Reasons You Should Start a Company in College
I was a senior at Vassar College when I decided to start my business, Print Em Shop. Like many of my peers I was frightened by the prospect of graduating without a plan, but the plans that others were set on did not seem to fit me. As a media student I spent a lot of time analyzing the media, but oddly enough I was not creating enough of it. And I realized that needed to change.
Print Em Shop is inspired by solutions I would come up with to cover up the blank white walls of my dorm room. Since I could not paint the walls, I decided to decorate them. I make lightweight frames for my customers, many of whom also live in dorms or rentals. I am dedicated to providing this solution for those who live in small spaces, but have big ideas.
I am not quite sure if I would have been driven to create my company while in college if not for what felt like the impending doom of graduation. Others get bitten by the entrepreunurial bug earlier in life. Others find their way a bit later in the life.
I want to focus on why college might be the best time to start your company, especially for those who are toying with the idea. Hopefully this post can push you to take that leap. Trust me, I am glad that I did!
1. Never will risk be so low
Most people in college are not married, do not have children and do not have rent or a morgage to be responsible for. You will never have as many self-centered needs and this can be a valuable thing when you are a starting a company. A company takes time and energy, but with responsibilities this time and energy is better spent on the family or on supporting your lifestyle. If your company is important to you, those extra nights partying can be ignored. Your family, however, cannot.
2. Who better to understand the potential solutions young people want than a young person yourself
Most likely your company will target customers just like you. When you meet a young child you are taken away by their curiosity and creativity, no? Well why should you expect people that are older than you to create something meant for your demographic? You understand the problem because you understand the perspective.
3. Don’t have a certain skill, no problem
Need a piece of code for your website? Need a new headshot? Need a copywriter? Well, lucky you, those people are most likely your friend (or even your neighbor!) If you were to hire someone to do these tasks you can easily spend hundreds of dollars. A good friend, who happens to be a photographer, writer or coder can be a huge asset especially in the early stage of your business. And hey, at the very least you now have a new brand advocate.
4. Free testers
If you ever made a batch of cupcakes in college you would be suprised how many “friends” come out to try one. Keep this in mind when launching your endeavor, because those classmates and members of your fraternity/sorority would probably jump to try out your product or service, or even hire you. The college community is one that is ready to be your guinea pig.
5. Don’t underestimate alumni networks
Your university or college most likely has some rad grads. Connect to them. Most of them remember being where you are and are more than willing to help you out. They may have skills and connections that you are lacking and can point you in the right direction on how to develop those for yourself.
Did you start a company in college? Are you thinking about it? I’d love to hear all about it.
