The Leap from Stability to Entrepreneurship
What drives someone to trade the safety of a steady career for the high-risk world of startups? For Tanmay Patel, founder of Lyngo, it wasn’t a decision made lightly but one rooted in a desire for growth.
"I was in a role where everything felt too predictable. It was comfortable, but I realised I wasn’t growing anymore. That’s when I knew it was time to build something of my own."
Similarly, Tia Collings, founder of Enaxiom, reflects on whether her career trajectory was truly fulfilling her ambitions. She describes the pivotal moment as one of stark clarity:
"There comes a point when you look at your career and think: am I just coasting? For me, that realisation was the nudge I needed to leap into entrepreneurship."
Both founders remark on how identifying this turning point became a catalyst for pursuing their passion projects and building something entirely their own.
From Ideas to Action - How to Get Started
Transforming an idea into a thriving startup is one of the most daunting parts of the entrepreneurial journey. Often, it starts with an itch - a curiosity or problem that refuses to leave your mind.
For Tia, the journey began with a problem she was passionate about.
"I had a general problem space I was interested in but no concrete solution. The Antler process helped me zoom in on what really mattered.”
She found this solution in the Antler residency when she met her co-founder, Bijan Rahimi, who had the domain expertise and patent-pending system to complement her commercial prowess and vision. Throughout the process, Tia and Bijan received dedicated coaching, utilised Antler’s network and resources, and conducted consistent design sprints to take Enaxiom from idea to reality.
On the other hand, Tanmay’s initial approach to building Lyngo revolved around a focus on validation. Before beginning development, he made a point of deeply understanding his audience.
"We spoke to over 50 potential customers before building anything. Their feedback shaped what we eventually launched."
Success also requires humility and a willingness to adapt and change. Pivoting played a significant role in both founders’ journeys. Tia recalls, "We thought our initial idea was golden, but as we dug deeper, it became clear that another direction held more potential. Pivoting was hard but necessary." Tanmay adds, "In my first startup, we clung to our original idea for too long. This time, I’ve learned to let the market guide us."
Building with Antler: A Collaborative Advantage
A supportive ecosystem can make all the difference for founders navigating these early challenges. Tia and Tanmay cited Antler as instrumental in their startup journeys, not just for the funding but for the mentorship it provides and the community it fosters.
Tia explains the sense of camaraderie she found in the residency as being pivotal to her experience:
"It’s not just the mentors or the capital; it’s the peers you work alongside. Being surrounded by ambitious people lifts you up.”
For Tanmay, Antler’s structured approach to idea validation was equally transformative:
"Antler gave us a framework to test ideas quickly and systematically, something that’s hard to replicate when you’re on your own."
Both founders also highlight the invaluable learnings from their cohort peers. Tia notes, "The best advice I got came from another founder in my cohort. We were all solving different problems, but the shared experiences were invaluable."
Fundraising and the Investor Relationship
For many founders, fundraising is one of the most daunting aspects of building a business. It requires a great pitch and the ability to forge strong relationships with investors - relationships that often last extensive amounts of time.
Tia humorously likens it to a long-term partnership:
"It’s a 10-year relationship, longer than some marriages! You’ve got to make sure your investor is someone you want to work with."
Tanmay brings a global perspective to the discussion, highlighting different investor dynamics across regions:
"Australian investors are often less direct. If you want real feedback, you have to ask hard questions. In the US, you’ll know where you stand immediately, which can be both refreshing and brutal."
Antler’s global network of advisors, partners, and investors is readily accessible to portfolio founders, enabling them to easily explore these different expectations and perspectives.
Both founders also emphasise the importance of seeking constructive criticism during fundraising. Tia advises, "We specifically asked investors what would stop them from writing a check. The answers were invaluable."
Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
Reflecting on their journeys, Tia and Tanmay offer three key pieces of advice for aspiring founders:
- Customer-Centricity: "Start with the customer and work backwards," said Tanmay. "If they’re not excited, you’re building the wrong thing."
- Team Dynamics: "Your co-founders and early hires are everything," noted Tia. "Misalignment early on can derail even the best ideas."
- Adaptability: Both stressed the value of staying flexible and letting the market guide decisions.
Closing Thoughts As Tanmay puts it, "Building a startup is messy and unpredictable, but when you’re surrounded by the right people, you realise you’re not alone on the journey."
If you're ready to take the next step, applications are still open here for our February residency.