Interview: Student who developed a successful Startup

"Truly, that idea has to 'drive' you; it can't be something that's pursued solely for money but rather for a slightly larger initiative."
-Anđela Kanjo

Today, I'm interviewing Anđela Kanjo, a college peer of mine who embarked on her entrepreneurial journey during her high school years. Anđela is currently a second-year student at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, specializing in Software Engineering. Alongside her colleague Filip Oketić, she co-founded Moveably, a digital platform that facilitates connections between carriers and potential clients through an auction-based system where clients post their transport needs, and carriers bid for the job, allowing clients to choose the best offer. Moveably emerged from Anđela's observation of underrepresented needs in the transportation sector. She nurtured her idea from its inception in school, through local and national competitions, to international recognition at the European Competition of the Best Student Companies in Estonia. In our discussion, Anđela shared insights into her personal journey, the development of Moveably, her academic pursuits, and the challenges and motivations inherent in her path as a young entrepreneur.
 
Given that you're a student at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences and started Moveably while still in high school, how do you manage to balance between university and running your own business?

I've been involved in entrepreneurship since the first year of high school, alongside extracurricular activities like music school and sports. These activities have become a part of who I am, and I thrive on staying busy. When it comes to balancing university and my business, I don't see university as something daunting or boring; instead, I view it as a source of opportunities. It provides me with contacts, information about new competitions for Moveably, and much more. People at university are always willing to help, listen, and guide, which I consider as a free course. Although it can be challenging during exam periods when everything piles up, having both university and my business is truly fulfilling.
 
How has university contributed to better management of your startup? What are the most valuable skills you've gained from university that are highly applicable in practice? As a member of Fonis (the Association of Computer Science Students), I'm interested in your opinion on student organizations in general, the benefits you've gained from being a member, and whether you'd recommend it to other students.

The Faculty of Organizational Sciences has provided me with a lot. One of the reasons I chose it is because of its focus on students and the management and business aspect. I believe that if you're willing to learn, you can gain a lot from this faculty. I've had wonderful experiences with professors who are always open to new projects and involving students in their activities, especially those involved in the Research and Development Center at FON. They have significantly contributed in various directions. The university has helped me enter the business world and understand the terms and phrases essential to it. It has enhanced my understanding of how startups are presented, emphasizing that it's not just about the idea and presentation but being aware of all the pros and cons, the problems we're solving, and why we're doing it. This university teaches you to be concise and get to the point.

Student organizations are fantastic for preparing us for the corporate and business world. What makes them particularly valuable is that they're the best source of contacts. I've met many people through projects and the organization itself, with whom I've later collaborated on the startup. I highly recommend that people get involved, even if it's just in one project, to see how a larger project organization works because it's a genuinely complex thing. Organizations are not only great for socializing and networking but also for learning project management skills, which are essentially running a company. I've gained numerous skills from being part of an organization, including not being afraid to ask for help, which I believe is crucial when running a startup because we don't know everything, especially at a young age. Our surroundings are our greatest resource.
 
What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting your startup?

When I was launching my startup, since I never had any work experience, the biggest challenges were definitely on the financial side, especially since I had just finished high school, and finances always seemed daunting (they still do sometimes), as well as legal issues. There were quite a few unknown and unresolved questions, but we went and continue to go step by step. The most important thing is to react in time, but I've always had people around me whom I can ask for help with anything. That's why I like to say that people are truly the most important resource, because without them, I wouldn't have succeeded on my own.
 
In your opinion, what are the most important qualities and what is the most important thing that someone who wants to start their own startup must invest in?

Truly, that idea has to 'drive' you; it can't be something that's pursued solely for money but rather for a slightly larger initiative. Everyone who wants to dive into those waters needs to understand their idea, truly see its value, and discipline is another requirement. Discipline is definitely needed for a startup because it's not something that can be done intermittently. The team is also very important because, no matter how much we might differ in other things, we need to align in that visionary sense, see the same values, and be able to function while still being different in skills and working methods. My colleague and I have the same vision for the company, but we see things differently. I'm very detailed-oriented, while he's very productive, so when I start delving into things that aren't necessary, he reminds me that we need to move forward, yet my attention to detail has a significant impact on presenting us and our results well, for example, in competitions, and it leads us to new ideas.
 
Where do you find the most motivation, and what drives you on a daily basis? What advice would you give to students and young people, in general, who are facing a lack of motivation, self-doubt, fear of others' opinions, and similar challenges?
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When it comes to motivation, I find it in the fact that I genuinely feel good while working on this. I really enjoy the moment when I can sit down and see what new can be added, what can be done differently here, communication with clients. There's an incredible feeling in me while doing this, and it's become such a daily part of my life that I can't imagine myself without Moveably and its logo around me. As for others' opinions, I think they shouldn't necessarily be seen as a bad thing. Of course, criticism is never pleasant, but it's extremely useful in the business world and in the startup world, so it's much better to hear what's not good than what is. We all know what's good about our ideas, but sometimes, because we're subjective, it's hard for us to see what might not work, and it means a lot to me when someone wants to give us suggestions, especially when that someone is well-intentioned. So, don't be afraid of others' opinions; they can help us notice our shortcomings and take our business to the next, better stage. As for starting a startup, we gained knowledge from various programs on how to present it, applied for competitions with financial rewards, and then there's the grant that supports startups in advisory and financial terms, so little by little, you can come to that initial capital and initial knowledge. The point is the desire to change something and contribute, solve a problem. Start from there and then be consistent. I would really recommend young people to try entrepreneurship, even while in high school; it's never too early to try out such competitions and programs.

Author

Ksenija Manojlović