Lakshay Ahuja is testament to the fact that – on top of student takeaways – the La Trobe University Entrepreneurship Bootcamp was an opportunity for industry to showcase their organisations, share insights and get in front of up-and-coming talent.
"During the bootcamp I was lucky to get my foot in the door with KeyNinja," says Lakshay.
An innovative start-up, the KeyNinja platform helps property managers streamline their hosting needs with automated scheduling, instant reports and customised solutions.
Lakshay has hit the ground running with his internship, working on SEO – a critical area for online platforms.
"I have been able to share my expertise, as well as cover so many aspects of marketing in this internship. (Overall it is) helping me to move ahead (during) my time in Australia”.
Lakshay arrived in Australia in October 2022. With an entrepreneurial background – running a start-up in India until COVID-19 had other plans – Lakshay has set his sights on a Master in Business Analytics (majoring in Marketing) at La Trobe University.
Formal education through La Trobe, and offerings like the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, work perfectly to complement his first-hand knowledge.
Lakshay is one of 30 students who took part in the bootcamp. Over six days he heard 14 presentations from industry, and learnt enterprise and entrepreneurial competencies. Specific focus was placed on: Idea validation, value proposition, drafting a business plan, competitor analysis, marketing and social media, finance, intellectual property, sustainability, raising capital, and pitching techniques.
Reflecting on his time at the bootcamp, he attributes the experience to a boost in his confidence.
“(It) helped me become more optimistic and (gave) me the encouragement to start again.”
Specifically, he connected with Chair of Cremorne Digital Hub, Monique Conheady’s journey with her start-up Flexicar, and how it has evolved over time.
“It was interesting to hear that all you need to get started is a vision, build a plan and create a network around you and get going!”
Inspired from his bootcamp experience and engaged by his KeyNinja work, Lakshay is excited for what the future holds.
“The people are fantastic, and I can’t wait to see where this can take me."
To learn about future entrepreneurship activities, including PitchFest, connect with La Trobe University at accelerator@latrobe.edu.au
