Two alumni entrepreneurs shared the highs and lows of founding their own businesses at the launch of the Business Start-Up Journey 2024 in Canterbury.
Speaking to a lecture theatre packed with students, Alex Ford, founder of fintech company Claro Wealth, and Nadia Simpson, founder of From Amora, a social media-based fragrance and beauty brand talked candidly about their entrepreneurial journeys.
Nadia Simpson, KBS alumna, shared valuable insights on running a successful e-commerce business with an impressive social media presence.
She said:
“I started my hair and wellness brand at the University of Kent in 2018, during my first year. It began as an idea to create natural hair care products that didn’t contain the toxins often found in commercial products.
Since then, I’ve started other businesses, but currently, I’m focusing on From Amora, which specialises in creating cruelty-free and alcohol-free perfume oils. My future plan is to merge my two businesses.
The advice I give to everyone is to never give up! Consistency is your best friend. You may not see results at first, and you may fail initially, but it’s up to you to get up and stay consistent!”
Alumni speakers Alex Ford and Nadia Simpson.
Alex, who studied computing and business at University of Kent, said:
“It was incredibly hard to get the business off the ground. We were challenging the traditional financial advice industry. As a start-up should, we were on a mission to disrupt the market. It meant long days, weeks, and months, with many pivots and changes, all in the hope that it would pay off in the end.
The best part of running your own business is working with amazing people on a project you’re passionate about. These people share the mission and are driven to achieve it, something you don’t always experience in a job.
My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: just go for it! I didn’t start my entrepreneurial journey straight out of uni, and I wish I had.”
After the keynote speeches, the audience quizzed the alumni founders touching on everything from the risks of starting up a business, to funding and finance. Afterwards there was the chance to network.
The event marked the start of the University’s flagship entrepreneurship support programme, the 15-week Business Start-Up Journey, which is run by the ASPIRE team.
Offering a step-by-step guide to starting a business, it inspires students with the knowledge and skills required to become successful entrepreneurs through interactive workshops and classes, delivered by ASPIRE’s entrepreneurs-in-residence and external experts.
The programme concludes with a pitching competition, where participants can win £1,000 in funding.
To join the Business Start-Up Journey or find out more about ASPIRE and how we support entrepreneurs and start-up, email ASPIRE@kent.ac.uk.
