FT Start-Up Stories Series 3: Launching by stealth 1/10
Oct 3, 2016
Shakil Khan, a founder who helped scale Student.com, shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey. He discusses how the platform started in Shanghai, driven by the need for student housing solutions. Shakil explains the decision to remain stealthy in the early days, allowing them to focus on market testing without distractions. He highlights the importance of validating their model across various countries before seeking publicity. Additionally, he touches on the balance between rapid scaling and getting it right, illustrating the complexities of launching a successful startup.
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Origin Story Born From Real Need
- Luke started student.com in Shanghai to help friends from China find rooms in London and handled about 70 referrals in the first year.
- The service grew organically as confused callers from multiple countries sought help with contracts and payments.
Fragmented Demand Needs A Unifying Platform
- International student housing demand is inherently fragmented across supply and origin countries.
- Technology can unify this fragmented market to create a global solution.
Complementary Founders Scale Thoughtfully
- Shakil joined Luke because they both saw the chance to create a market leader beyond China.
- They combined Luke's on-the-ground proof with Shakil's experience to avoid past mistakes and scale thoughtfully.