By the end of 2018, after months of negotiations, back-and-forths, and persistent follow-ups, I finally secured two annual sponsorship deals worth over ten thousand each. With the support of these sponsors, the business competition finals were successfully held.
That year, the experience of “asking strangers for real money” gave me my first glimpse into the world behind the door labeled “business.”
Despite countless awkward moments along the way, it sharpened my ability to understand user needs—especially the unspoken "between-the-lines" cues that often hold the real story.
A photo of me with a sponsorship representative at the 2019 Spring business competition finals.
Breaking into a completely unfamiliar industry and landing sponsors was undeniably tough. With no connections to rely on, I chose the simplest—yet hardest—method: cold calling.
Over the course of a month, I called 232 organizations in the industry and visited more than 30 local business, just to gather a few more contacts and open up even the slightest chance for collaboration. Rejection quickly became a regular part of my daily life.
I made calls and visits one by one using phone numbers I found online.
In the summer of 2018, back in high school, I joined the fundraising department of a business club called EIC. The heart of the club’s operations was an annual three-day, two-night business competition.
As a member of the fundraising department, it was our job to secure sponsorships from the outside world to keep the event running.
All my stories and opportunities related to business and products seem to start right here. Funny enough, the beginning of this story has nothing to do with building products at all.
Want to hear a story about me? One about my journey, my friends, and the products I’ve built? They’re all waiting to meet you below. :)
2019