This article is written by Rudra Puri, currently studying in the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology at the University of Pennsylvania. Rudra interned with us during the summer of 2014.
Seedcamp really is a family. When I arrived on the first day of my internship this summer, I didn’t really know what to expect. Having just finished my first year of college in the US with a small amount of experience working in venture capital and startups, I assumed I’d just be “the intern” – you know, the guy who gets coffee or lunch for the office and ensures the kitchen remains tidy. But no, as soon as I arrived at 4 – 5 Bonhill Street in London, I became a part of the Seedcamp family.
Situated in the unique Google Campus of London, Seedcamp gave me invaluable exposure to Silicon Valley culture. Through the course of six weeks I met, interacted with, and worked alongside innovative Internet and technology startups whilst continuously learning about venture capital and technology business development along the way. From the first till the last day, I was engaged with work that fell exactly on the path of my interests. The work I did allowed me to further my problem-solving skills and integrated my two passions; business and engineering.
During the course of my internship I reviewed fundraising pitch decks, analysed data regarding portfolio companies for various uses, assisted with outreach for events that were coming up, helped with web design and development, and examined partnerships with various entrepreneurial programs. I also helped out with the planning of Seedhack v5.0 (which was a huge success!) along with the other summer intern, Nicola. I had the opportunity to work on awesome projects that made an impact on their activities.
More than just the work itself, the environment and culture at Seedcamp made my time at the company truly unforgettable. Working there is extremely interesting and loads of fun! From the humorous side jokes with Reshma to the lovable banter at the desk between Carlos, Sia, and Kirsten to welcoming Florin into the team with tiramisu on his first day, you can tell that the people at Seedcamp really enjoy spending time and working together. They really are a family.
In six weeks, my whole understanding of startups and venture capital changed and solidified. Working at Seedcamp this summer was an illuminating and exciting experience that has helped redefine what I want with my career after university. Thanks to the real-world experience of working in business, engineering, and their intersection that I received from Seedcamp, I am now enthralled by startups and venture capital and would love to see myself working in that area.
