Failure is part of growing in the startup world. Nevertheless, founders often think "If only someone had told me that before". To make sure you don't feel the same way, our recent NMA graduates share their biggest learnings from the Accelerator with us.
In October the NMA.VC celebrated the graduation of its twelfth batch. At the traditional NMA Demo Day in Hamburg our four media-tech startups shared their experiences, their progress and initial successes. We asked: What lesson did you take away from the Next Media Accelerator program that you will never forget throughout your career? Here are the answers.
Be bold and dream big.
Our goal determines our path to success. Take one step at a time, but the founders of HYPE 1000, a Corporate Podcast Solutions Provider, make it clear: „You need to be bold, you need to really dream big because there’s gonna be so many obstacles that you’re gonna stand against. Believe in yourself, because if you don’t do it nobody else will.“ – Maximilian Conrad, Co-Founder HYPE 1000.
Focus on a strong team.
Business only works when everyone pulls together – the founders of Scriptbakery, a digital tool for the analysis and management of text and audio, are convinced of that: „Focus on what really matters, that’s to build a strong core team. It's not a one-man show.“ – Jonas Al-Nemri, Co-Founder Scriptbakery.
Leave your comfort zone.
There are many hurdles to overcome on the road to success. The founder of WhoCan, an all-in-one platform that helps to plan, produce and deliver content, makes it clear that this takes some overcoming. „The main challenge that all startups face is getting out of their comfort zone, especially when it comes to talking and winning the first customers.“ – Ludwig Henne, Founder WhoCan.
Show the benefit.
Above all, success means convincing customers of your product. This can only be achieved by highlighting the added value. That's how you get customers to pay for your service, as the founders of Medieninsider, a web magazine for media professionals, report:
„To find new users is very important. Not just to give them some content and to share content – you have to make people be willing to pay for it as well.” – Marvin Schade, Co-Founder Medieninsider.
Year after year, the Next Media Accelerator helps media startups take their business model to the next level and climb the ladder of success. We provide them with funding, workshops, mentoring and networking to get them ready to hit the ground running. This makes us the leading pan-European startup program for innovation in media and marketing. We are very happy that Batch 12 was again such a success and that the startups go out into the world strengthened, trained and full of knowledge and joy.