#US24
#Startup
#Recruitment
Revela: Enabling Meaningful Job Matches
Revela: Enabling Meaningful Job Matches
Revela: Enabling Meaningful Job Matches
Revela: Enabling Meaningful Job Matches
Revela: Enabling Meaningful Job Matches
Revela: Enabling Meaningful Job Matches
Revela is a recruitment startup I developed and pitched with Thiago at the 2024 UniMelb StartUp Pitch Competition (US24).
Revela is a recruitment startup I developed and pitched with Thiago at the 2024 UniMelb StartUp Pitch Competition (US24).
Revela is a recruitment startup I developed and pitched with Thiago at the 2024 UniMelb StartUp Pitch Competition (US24).
Revela is a recruitment startup I developed and pitched with Thiago at the 2024 UniMelb StartUp Pitch Competition (US24).
Revela is a recruitment startup I developed and pitched with Thiago at the 2024 UniMelb StartUp Pitch Competition (US24).
Revela is a recruitment startup I developed and pitched with Thiago at the 2024 UniMelb StartUp Pitch Competition (US24).
Mar 2024 - May 2024
Timeline
US24 Finalist
Role
Mar 2024 - May 2024
Timeline
US24 Finalist
Role
Background
Background
The UniMelb Startup Pitch Competition is a program at the University of Melbourne that provides training, mentoring, and the opportunity to pitch startup ideas to a panel of investors.
Open to all university students, it encourages teams of 2-6 members to develop and test startup concepts. The competition includes workshops, mentor sessions, and a final pitch event for the top eight final teams.
US24 was the largest startup competition ran at the university to date, with over 700 participants and over 100 teams participating in 2024.
The UniMelb Startup Pitch Competition is a program at the University of Melbourne that provides training, mentoring, and the opportunity to pitch startup ideas to a panel of investors.
Open to all university students, it encourages teams of 2-6 members to develop and test startup concepts. The competition includes workshops, mentor sessions, and a final pitch event for the top eight final teams.
US24 was the largest startup competition ran at the university to date, with over 700 participants and over 100 teams participating in 2024.
Goals
Goals
1
Learn how to develop and pitch a startup idea.
I had read lots about startups and the world of VC before this competition. However, I wanted to practically apply myself and see what it's all about firsthand.
1
Learn how to develop and pitch a startup idea.
I had read lots about startups and the world of VC before this competition. However, I wanted to practically apply myself and see what it's all about firsthand.
1
Learn how to develop and pitch a startup idea.
I had read lots about startups and the world of VC before this competition. However, I wanted to practically apply myself and see what it's all about firsthand.
2
Practice communicating and presenting effectively.
Coming in to the competition I was a confident speaker, but not a great speaker. I wanted to improve my ability to communicate ideas effectively and tell a compelling narrative.
2
Practice communicating and presenting effectively.
Coming in to the competition I was a confident speaker, but not a great speaker. I wanted to improve my ability to communicate ideas effectively and tell a compelling narrative.
2
Practice communicating and presenting effectively.
Coming in to the competition I was a confident speaker, but not a great speaker. I wanted to improve my ability to communicate ideas effectively and tell a compelling narrative.
3
Understand the startup ecosystem in Australia.
I wanted to gain an understanding of the opportunities available in Australia to get involved in the startup ecosystem.
3
Understand the startup ecosystem in Australia.
I wanted to gain an understanding of the opportunities available in Australia to get involved in the startup ecosystem.
3
Understand the startup ecosystem in Australia.
I wanted to gain an understanding of the opportunities available in Australia to get involved in the startup ecosystem.
4
Develop an idea worth pursuing.
Coming up with a great startup idea isn't something that can necessarily happen at will. However, ideally, I aimed to produce an idea that was worth pursuing outside of the competition.
4
Develop an idea worth pursuing.
Coming up with a great startup idea isn't something that can necessarily happen at will. However, ideally, I aimed to produce an idea that was worth pursuing outside of the competition.
4
Develop an idea worth pursuing.
Coming up with a great startup idea isn't something that can necessarily happen at will. However, ideally, I aimed to produce an idea that was worth pursuing outside of the competition.
5
Win the 2024 Unimelb Startup Pitch Competition.
Winning the competition was a key goal for me going in.
5
Win the 2024 Unimelb Startup Pitch Competition.
Winning the competition was a key goal for me going in.
5
Win the 2024 Unimelb Startup Pitch Competition.
Winning the competition was a key goal for me going in.
Process
Process
1
Ideation
Thiago and I began by doing personal problem audits. Practically, this meant reviewing all the sources of friction and the most prevalent problems we experience in our lives. Having shortlisted the best problems we could find, we got together to select problem spaces that resonated the most with both of us. To come up with solutions, we broke these problems down into their underlying components and root causes. From there, we developed optimal solutions to address these root causes, initially aiming for 'fantasy' solutions without considering any practical constraints. Revela was the solution we identified to address the dysfunctional jobseeker experience we had faced in the past.
1
Ideation
Thiago and I began by doing personal problem audits. Practically, this meant reviewing all the sources of friction and the most prevalent problems we experience in our lives. Having shortlisted the best problems we could find, we got together to select problem spaces that resonated the most with both of us. To come up with solutions, we broke these problems down into their underlying components and root causes. From there, we developed optimal solutions to address these root causes, initially aiming for 'fantasy' solutions without considering any practical constraints. Revela was the solution we identified to address the dysfunctional jobseeker experience we had faced in the past.
1
Ideation
Thiago and I began by doing personal problem audits. Practically, this meant reviewing all the sources of friction and the most prevalent problems we experience in our lives. Having shortlisted the best problems we could find, we got together to select problem spaces that resonated the most with both of us. To come up with solutions, we broke these problems down into their underlying components and root causes. From there, we developed optimal solutions to address these root causes, initially aiming for 'fantasy' solutions without considering any practical constraints. Revela was the solution we identified to address the dysfunctional jobseeker experience we had faced in the past.
2
Selection and Refinement
Having decided on the audacious 'fantasy' solution we wanted to create, we still had to work out the less 'aesthetic' stuff (i.e. the business model, target market, distribution plan, G2M etc). We did a lot of research, reading and attended the workshops hosted by the Katrina Gaskin and the Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) team. This helped us refine and polish the concept until we were ready to start speaking to users. Then we got out and did psuedo elevator pitches and feedback workshops with anyone that would listen to get their critique and general thoughts on the idea. Exploring the problem with recruiters and jobseekers is definitely where we got the most value. In hindsight, I wished we did this more intensely and with more people.
2
Selection and Refinement
Having decided on the audacious 'fantasy' solution we wanted to create, we still had to work out the less 'aesthetic' stuff (i.e. the business model, target market, distribution plan, G2M etc). We did a lot of research, reading and attended the workshops hosted by the Katrina Gaskin and the Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) team. This helped us refine and polish the concept until we were ready to start speaking to users. Then we got out and did psuedo elevator pitches and feedback workshops with anyone that would listen to get their critique and general thoughts on the idea. Exploring the problem with recruiters and jobseekers is definitely where we got the most value. In hindsight, I wished we did this more intensely and with more people.
2
Selection and Refinement
Having decided on the audacious 'fantasy' solution we wanted to create, we still had to work out the less 'aesthetic' stuff (i.e. the business model, target market, distribution plan, G2M etc). We did a lot of research, reading and attended the workshops hosted by the Katrina Gaskin and the Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) team. This helped us refine and polish the concept until we were ready to start speaking to users. Then we got out and did psuedo elevator pitches and feedback workshops with anyone that would listen to get their critique and general thoughts on the idea. Exploring the problem with recruiters and jobseekers is definitely where we got the most value. In hindsight, I wished we did this more intensely and with more people.
3
Preliminary Video Pitch
Having arrived on a final solution we were happy with, we wrote a script and built out an initial presentation deck. Then, we filmed and submitted our initial preliminary video pitch.
3
Preliminary Video Pitch
Having arrived on a final solution we were happy with, we wrote a script and built out an initial presentation deck. Then, we filmed and submitted our initial preliminary video pitch.
3
Preliminary Video Pitch
Having arrived on a final solution we were happy with, we wrote a script and built out an initial presentation deck. Then, we filmed and submitted our initial preliminary video pitch.
3
Practice and Polish
After being notified that we had made the finals, we were invited to do a few mentoring sessions with staff from the Melbourne Entreprenurial Centre (MEC) and the MAP. We had a week from the time we were notified until we'd be on the finals stage. Our preparation involved a lot of memorising, rehearsing and practicing pitching in front of people. But aside from nailing our presentation, the main aim here was to identify the holes in our idea and come up with plans to handle the inevitable objections we were bound to face from the final judging panel. We got lots of useful feedback from those that helped us practice and we did our best to incorporate the things that clicked.
3
Practice and Polish
After being notified that we had made the finals, we were invited to do a few mentoring sessions with staff from the Melbourne Entreprenurial Centre (MEC) and the MAP. We had a week from the time we were notified until we'd be on the finals stage. Our preparation involved a lot of memorising, rehearsing and practicing pitching in front of people. But aside from nailing our presentation, the main aim here was to identify the holes in our idea and come up with plans to handle the inevitable objections we were bound to face from the final judging panel. We got lots of useful feedback from those that helped us practice and we did our best to incorporate the things that clicked.
3
Practice and Polish
After being notified that we had made the finals, we were invited to do a few mentoring sessions with staff from the Melbourne Entreprenurial Centre (MEC) and the MAP. We had a week from the time we were notified until we'd be on the finals stage. Our preparation involved a lot of memorising, rehearsing and practicing pitching in front of people. But aside from nailing our presentation, the main aim here was to identify the holes in our idea and come up with plans to handle the inevitable objections we were bound to face from the final judging panel. We got lots of useful feedback from those that helped us practice and we did our best to incorporate the things that clicked.
4
Final Pitch Night
The final pitch night involved a ten minute pitching slot per team. Four minutes were allocated to the actual pitch, which was then followed by five minutes of Q&A by the judging panel. All eight final teams pitched sequentially with intermittent intervals for sponsors and audience breaks. After all teams had pitched the panel had a thirty minute decision window before announcing their winner. On the night, we felt we executed our presentation and Q&A gameplan as planned. However, we weren't fortunate enough to come away with the win this time.
4
Final Pitch Night
The final pitch night involved a ten minute pitching slot per team. Four minutes were allocated to the actual pitch, which was then followed by five minutes of Q&A by the judging panel. All eight final teams pitched sequentially with intermittent intervals for sponsors and audience breaks. After all teams had pitched the panel had a thirty minute decision window before announcing their winner. On the night, we felt we executed our presentation and Q&A gameplan as planned. However, we weren't fortunate enough to come away with the win this time.
4
Final Pitch Night
The final pitch night involved a ten minute pitching slot per team. Four minutes were allocated to the actual pitch, which was then followed by five minutes of Q&A by the judging panel. All eight final teams pitched sequentially with intermittent intervals for sponsors and audience breaks. After all teams had pitched the panel had a thirty minute decision window before announcing their winner. On the night, we felt we executed our presentation and Q&A gameplan as planned. However, we weren't fortunate enough to come away with the win this time.
Preliminary Video Pitch
Preliminary Video Pitch
Final Thoughts
Despite being told many times, and reading about it many more times, actually developing Revela drove home how difficult it is to create a good startup idea. And this is excluding actual execution which is the real hard part.
Whilst Revela didn't outright win this years competition, reaching the final eight and pitching on stage to a panel of investors and a theatre full of people was incredibly valuable.
This competition also reminded me how much it sucks to lose when you really try to achieve something. But I found it's much easier to stomach when you do all you can on the inputs side of the equation. The externally determined outputs are not always within our control. Having said that, if you don't win, most of time you just weren't good enough. And this time I think I wasn't good enough.
At the time of writing we have decided to pause further work on Revela whilst we focus on completing our final year of study.
I'm excited to take the learnings from this experience into my next project.
