Help from a Stranger

‘No man is an island, no man lives alone.'

John Donne

This sentiment resonates deeply in the world of entrepreneurship, where the journey can often feel isolating. When we venture down familiar paths, it's easy to adopt the mindset of 'I've got this.' But it's when we face challenges beyond our immediate solutions that we truly realize the value of seeking help. Yet, even then, seeking assistance can feel daunting.

In the startup landscape, every brick we lay is a foundational brick, and it’s imperative to build a solid base for our venture’s future.? However, navigating this terrain is fraught with obstacles—uneven ground, tricky corners, and unpredictable weather. It's no wonder many shy away from the founder's role, put off by challenges beyond their expertise and uncertain if they'll find the support they need.

What non-founders often underestimate is the incredible kindness inherent in the entrepreneurial community. In my previous startup journey, I was hugely surprised by the outpouring of support when I reached out for help. People generously offered their time, advice, and connections without expecting anything in return. Whether it was navigating bureaucratic hurdles with the town council or making critical business decisions, I found a network of mentors and advisors who guided me with selfless generosity.

These individuals not only shared their expertise but also spared me weeks of frustration and financial resources with their tips on finding and negotiating a lease for my first retail location, plan layouts, ensure regulation compliance and vet builders. Their insights and introductions helped me navigate obstacles more efficiently and effectively than I could have imagined.

I tried to be conscientious in paying into the system, often called upon to share my learnings about running a successful retail business, working collaboratively as an independent with much more powerful shopping centre management and international commercial landlords.?

Often the most valuable help you can give is in making introductions.? Just as no man is an island, no one is all-knowing.? It’s fortunate when you can help someone directly with your expertise, but it’s all the more often when you can connect them with someone else who can best help.? Personally, I find this more gratifying because you’re potentially helping two people.

I discovered in the 'founding world,' there is a real culture of paying it forward, where entrepreneurs support each other in their journeys, knowing that success is often built on the collective wisdom and generosity of the community.?

And when you’re fortunate to have the support of a venture program like Zinc, you’ll find both the asking and giving both teed up for you.? The Zinc team, with Caitlin Scheybeler on point for building the Zinc Eco-system, curates an incredible pool of talented and generous experts and puts them within easy reach.? Not only do we benefit from a regular line-up of panel discussions and deep-dives by subject matter experts, every fortnight we have the opportunity to book ‘office hours’ with Fellows, Zinc’s term for specialised mentors.

Since my last update on the journey, my co-founder, Govin, and I are grateful to have learned from the experience and wisdom of several experts we’ve met through the Zinc eco-system, whether formally or via introductions from fellow cofounders in the program. Thank you to Kristle Haroon for her advice on motivating healthcare decision makers, Sacha Manson-Smith for taking us through his experience building a startup in digital healthcare.? I’ve leaned on David Janner-Klausner (he/him) several times already, but this was Govin’s first meeting with him.? He shared practical tips where to start and what to include in the initial build. It was the reverse when, for the first time for me, we met with Erik Schwartz , who was ready to discuss all things AI and especially to do with Large Action Models.? Andrew Tindall and his colleague Keeley Williams from Potter Clarkson , who talked us through the condensed version of how to navigate the international trademarking process.? Govin took up the baton in meeting alone with Jason Bootle , who gave us detailed feedback on our pitch around how we’re going to help GP practices deliver better chronic health care.? I was unable to attend, coincidentally as I was attending a hard-won appointment at my GP surgery. ?? We didn't need to look far for a view on scoping the software integration needs that will help Zonder deliver a better care experience, as we found expert advice from our cohort colleague, Emlyn Whittick .

As we approach the deadline for our pitch to win a place on the accelerate phase of the Zinc program, we’ve also been able to count on increased personalised support from the Zinc team with advice gratefully received from Maria Fomina, Bernadette Behnke, Rosie Webster. Even Zinc’s CEO, Paul Kirby, found time to stop for a ‘hallway conversation’ with advice on how Zonder might strategically approach the stepping stones to rapid growth.

And a post about getting help wouldn't be complete without recognising the learning I gain daily from my Zonderful co-founder. If you missed last week's interview with Govin, you can find it here.

So, to would-be founders and aspiring entrepreneurs, I hope I have convinced you not to hesitate in seeking help when you need it. Embrace the spirit of collaboration and generosity that defines the startup ecosystem, and you'll find that there are always helping hands ready to support you on your journey.? And if you like the sound of the extra support offered by the Zinc venture program, you can find out how to join the next cohort here or reach out to me for a chat.

Thanks for reading, and be sure to hit 'Subscribe' to receive future editions directly into your inbox.

Further insights can be found in the blogs of my colleagues:

• Marjo Palanee
• Natalia Baltazar
• Josh Piddock
• Air Aware Labs here
• Guy Naor
• Veronika Bridgman
• Pavandeep Rai
• Lisa Rickers