essays - worth mentioning startup?

Question

Hi all,
I am working on my essays for Columbia and LBS. I don't know whether I should mention that I recently founded a company with a friend on mine. The thing is I don't have any result to show, since the company is really new and we only have an presentation page website. Plus, I'm kind of worried they could think I'm not sure about where I'm headed with my career (my first option, as I'm writing on the essays, is corporate career)..
All this being said, do you think it's still worth mentioning it? maybe in the optional essay?

thank you so much!!

AugustAcademy · Answer

You should mention your start up experience - talk about your objectives, the path you have taken so far, the lessons you have learnt (maybe one of them could be that you are not made for startups?), and where you plan to take it in the years to come.

It is ok that you want a corporate career - the startup experience still provides a platform for you to develop skills that you wouldn't be able to otherwise, and which will be useful in getting a headstart in your future career.

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

I would mention it if it is a serious venture. Be clear about your intentions and where it currently stands as a very new venture. If the industry or skills you will develop from the startup align with your planned future career goals connect the dots for admissions in your application. Working on a startup can highlight valuable skill development which could be very beneficial to your application if framed properly

SBCErikaOlson · Answer

I have a different take, but I'm also drawing from the few details you put in your original post. It sounded like you only had a simple website and some thoughts about what the company could be, and that's it. If that's the case, I would  not  mention the startup in your materials as they would definitely have follow-up questions for you in an interview and it could sound like you just put "founded a startup" on your resume/app solely because you thought it would sound good/differentiate you. If you wouldn't have something significant to say about the company if you were peppered with questions in an interview, I would hesitate in advising you to include it on your app because they could view it as untruthful or deceptive.

However, if you've actually raised money, have a board/advisors, have some sales/clients lined up (even if you don't have any revenue), have a business plan out to some angel groups to review or have made presentations in front of such groups, etc., then you should DEFINITELY mention the experience in your app, and be sure to include those details. Without that sort of context, it may raise a few eyebrows.

Again, I'm only going by the assumptions I'm making from your original post. It wasn't clear what "founding a startup" actually meant (to you) in that post so I hope I interpreted your concern correctly.

Hope this helps!

Erika

essays - worth mentioning startup?

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