This is an excerpt from a Tech In Chicago podcast episode. To listen to the whole episode and catch up with all Tech In Chicago episodes, click here.
This transcript has been lightly condensed and edited.
Colin Keeley: What advice would you give to someone trying to get into startups?
Gale Bowman: I think that the best approach is to read a lot about the startups and the VCs that are in the community you live in and think about which one you would be a great fit for you and why.
Then I would research the individuals that are running those companies and figure out a way to get introduced to them. You want to have a face-to-face or a phone call meeting where you show evidence that you’ve really done your research and that you’re competent, passionate, and you would love to add value and you have really great ideas about how to do that. It never hurts to offer to work for free on a project at first. Be really specific about a project that you identify and come up with an offer to help with it.
It’s a lot easier for somebody who is running a startup to say yes if they know that you’re going to run with it on your own. Then if you do prove that you are able to add value sometimes there are great relationships that can develop. Companies will sometimes pick folks up that that go the distance.
Colin Keeley: This is actually exactly how I got my first job at a startup. I was a part time student as a senior in college and I reached out to a promising startup in Minneapolis. I said this is my background and this is what I have to offer and I am happy to do an unpaid internship initially. Eventually they raise money and then they can pay you.
About Tech In Chicago:
Tech In Chicago takes you inside the Chicago tech world. Each week Colin Keeley is joined by Chicago’s top founders and investors to talk about the amazing companies being built right here. If you want to learn more about Tech In Chicago, head to TechInChicago.co
I would love to hear your thoughts on the show and any guests I should have on. Please reach out @TechInChicago. You can also find me @ColinKeeley.