The Catalyst Programme: Final Reflections
The Catalyst Programme is a six-week training hosted by The Shortcut to prepare immigrants to Finland for starting or joining startups.
After the third week, the Catalyst Programme pedagogy shifts toward an independent, self-learning period. This portion is about converting the experiences, networks, and skills practiced during the beginning of the program into internships and skill development courses aligned with our interests and skills.
Thus far, each participant has joined The Shortcut’s Talent, Events, or Communications team on a series of mini-projects, from brainstorming data collection methods to outlining the 2019 strategic plan. Some have converted this experience to internships, like Gurjeet and Rob, who now shape The Shortcut’s talent and content respectively. Others have gone on to seek internships and employment with Helsinki startups. Corinne Isler, for instance, joined Work Ahead, a startup helping companies understand the sustainability and ethic of their supply chains.
One unfortunate consequence of this transition is our contact with The Shortcut and each other becomes less frequent. Yet, the community continues to permeate our professional journeys. I, for instance, have had three distinct experiences in the past weeks that have reinforced the value of The Shortcut’s work in The Catalyst Programme and elsewhere.
Robo.CEO
Robo.CEO is building an operating system for running organizations online. It is a web-app integrating communication, scheduling, and management tools onto one platform to eliminate friction and increase transparency. The solution is particularly aimed at distributed businesses; Robo.CEO provides a robust and flexible backbone to handle increasingly digital workflows.
I got involved to write content and ramp up Robo.CEO’s social media presence in preparation for Slush 2018, giving me insight into marketing and business development in the startup context. It was a great chance to meet veterans of the Helsinki startup ecosystem as Robo.CEO has participated in the Kiuas Accelerator, Slush 100 pitching competition, and is a long-time Microsoft Flux member.
Without this blog, a participant in the previous Catalyst Programme, or The Shortcut’s reputation in the ecosystem I would not have had this opportunity. My experience is a testament to the good that can happen when initiative, even if blind, can transform to value through a vibrant ecosystem.
Slush ‘18
My work earned me a ticket to Slush to help run Robo.CEO’s booth, invite people to the open beta, and post on social media. Slush is the premiere startup event in Helsinki and beyond, bringing together over 20,000 investors, startups, academics, companies, and anyone with an interest related to tech, entrepreneurship, impact, and global business development.
There is a lot to say about Slush and I’m sure many people have said it. I’ll only share one hypothesis: Slush’s value increases the more people you know.
As a conference that brings together thousands, Slush is rightly perceived the focal point of the Nordic startup scene. I don’t disagree; my LinkedIn grew more during Slush than ever before. There is a point, though, where size becomes counterproductive, where there are so many people to talk to and so much to do that the experience can become numbing. For me, it was around the 12th introduction when I felt myself dissociating to witness a short, blond man repeat vaguely familiar words on autopilot.
On the other hand, connection with individuals you have met before Slush seems to foster greater connection. Perhaps skipping the monotonous introduction lets you delve right into interesting topics quicker. Perhaps it’s the energy of being at such a vaunted event. Perhaps it’s the techno.
Regardless of the reason, I believe Slush is more valuable the more you attend and/or the more you are integrated into the startup scene. The event is so large that you will likely run into at least a handful of your network regardless of your level of integration; I’ve only been in Helsinki for three months and most of the individuals I had met, even outside the startup scene, I saw again at Slush.
I only have The Shortcut to thank for connecting me to the startup world here. Four outsiders, it is the perfect gateway into Helsinki’s robust community.
The Shortcut Christmas Party
Let me make my point explicit: The Catalyst Program specifically, and The Shortcut generally, is most valuable for the community it gives you.
Don’t dismiss this as trivial. I have also been skeptical of intangible variables like community but studies consistently shown that belonging carries with it innumerable positive effects, such as motivation. A community is valuable in the workplace too; Google’s Project Aristotle, which studied the secrets of effective teams at Google, found that people’s sense of psychological safety is the number one success factor. Even in a company boasting some of the world’s top brain power a feeling of safety and comfort trumps education, skills, or system.
I was reminded of the power of belonging in my own life at a Christmas party hosted by The Shortcut. I arrived in Finland exactly three months before with no work or network, and it crushed me. Fear of being asked, “What are you doing here?” permeated my days, making me paranoid and uncertain. I felt as if I had nothing to justify me.
Today, that is a distant feeling. Participating in the Catalyst Programme and taking advantage of The Shortcut’s opportunities have given me a room full of friends who have restored a sense of self-worth and purpose.
If you or someone you know needs a jolt or connection, then I cannot recommend visiting The Shortcut or joining the Catalyst Programme enough — there is an information session soon. It will transform you.
