Evolving and Growing

When Vanessa Jopillo and I founded Ediphi, our vision was focused yet ambitious: to pave the way for students and recent graduates aiming for leadership roles in the hospitality sector. Starting as a consultancy, we were driven by the belief that access to quality education and training should not be confined to geographical or socio-economic boundaries.

Pivot to Virtual Reality and AI-Enabled Training

As we navigated the complexities of the education landscape, it became increasingly apparent that traditional methods were limiting. The constraints of location, time, and cost were barriers too significant for many. That's when we pivoted towards a technology-first approach.

Integrating Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our training modules revolutionized the way we offer education. Not only could we replicate high-quality, international style training, but we could also make it cost-effective and accessible. Suddenly, students in remote and underprivileged areas could engage in scenarios and simulations as if they were in elite institutes.

The Big Leap: Techstars Boston Accelerator

However, the pinnacle of our journey, a moment that still feels surreal, was being selected for the Techstars Boston cohort this fall. We found out in July and were floored. The two weeks we spent in Boston earlier this month were transformative. Our cohort is full of dynamic, brilliant minds, and we had the privilege of meeting mentors whose generosity knew no bounds.

The Mentorship Impact: A Lesson in Resilience

In this journey, the sage advice of our mentors at Techstars has quickly become a cornerstone of our philosophy. Their constant encouragement to "keep going, keep building, keep evolving" highlighted the importance of relentless forward motion. Their wisdom taught us that in the dynamic ecosystem of startups, stagnation is the enemy, not failure. Moreover, the concept of being part of a larger 'family' offers an invaluable emotional safety net. This reinforces our resolve to ask for help, experiment fearlessly, and to never shy away from challenges, knowing we are not alone.

Looking Ahead

As we stand at this juncture, with so much behind us and yet so much more to explore, we’re elated. Our goal remains clear: to build pathways to education and leadership that open new worlds. A guiding light for us is the impact of access to education on improving lives. The ability for people to use our training to earn a living, support their families, and leave poverty behind serves as our North Star. We are hopeful about the future, poised to make even greater strides in education equity, accessibility, and women's leadership. We often look at each other and literally pinch ourselves. Yes, we’re really here, and yes, we’re just getting started. Stay tuned as we work our way through the Techstars program toward Demo Day in December.