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Will Burkhart is a super-talented founder of Alumni Tutors, a service that connects school alumni tutors with students. He's also a student at Vanderbilt, majoring in Applied Math and studying the Vandy Fusion Project, Vandy Quantum Initiative, Artificial Intelligence, and life. When he's not shooting hoops or jamming on his sax, Will's diving headfirst into the thrilling world of business. And guess what? He's got a podcast! Will exemplifies the ambitious spirit of a young entrepreneur.
And that’s only the start of it. He also runs a podcast, where he engages with highly accomplished individuals - entrepreneurs, investors, and VCs who are making waves in the business world.
On his podcast Studying Success, Will chats with accomplished entrepreneurs, investors, and VCs, getting their insights on what it takes to make it big. So, I sat down with him to find out what he's learned during his time at Prequel's Summer Program (formerly BETA Camp).
Lessons from Podcasting: Building Skills and Making Connections
In a podcast with Venture Capitalist John Broscious, Burkhart learned persistence is everything. John told him the best entrepreneurs are glass eaters – they'll chew through criticism to reach their goals. This resilience is a key trait for entrepreneurs.
Will applied this same dedication to reaching out to successful VCs and entrepreneurs for this podcast.
Will found out that connecting with people isn't as scary as it seems, which is a skill he honed at Prequel's Summer Program through workshops on overcoming rejection. He found that most folks are more than willing to lend a helping hand. Prequel helps students develop crucial networking confidence.
“A lot of the time, people are willing to help you. So I'd say that it's important to try to build connections with people and reach out to people. Even if you think that they wouldn't give you the time.”
Thanks to his podcast, Will's become a networking pro. It's not just about collecting business cards; your connections can help you market your product or service to their networks. So, don't be shy – reach out and make those connections! Effective networking can significantly boost a young entrepreneur's reach.
Finding Prequel: A community for young entrepreneurs
“It's not always easy feeling like the odd one out, but Prequel provides a solution by connecting motivated young entrepreneurs like myself with a supportive community.”
Will had previously attended a few other business camps, but wanted a program with more hands-on experience and networking opportunities.
He attended a few other business camps, but they lacked hands-on experience and networking opportunities. Prequel's Summer Program, however, offers all that and more. It's about finding your tribe – you know, those business-savvy kids who are as motivated as you are. Finding a like-minded community is invaluable for teen entrepreneurs.
Finding Prequel: A community for young and ambitious entrepreneurs
The knowledge and skills you learn at Prequel are truly invaluable. Not only do you learn tangible career skills like product market fit, marketing, or pitching to investors, but also how to build teams and a network of like-minded, ambitious people. Prequel offers a comprehensive entrepreneurial toolkit.
Will's parents always supported his business ambitions. When he told them about Prequel, they were all in. Being surrounded by like-minded teens who geek out over business talk … it's a motivating environment that will have you coming up with business ideas all day long. A supportive environment fuels creativity and business development.
Take your career and entrepreneurial journey to the next level
Prequel is a magnet for ambitious high school students who are ready to challenge themselves, bring their ideas to life, and make a real-world impact today. And let's face it, nobody wants to be stuck in a boring business lecture. That's why Prequel was a game-changer for Will. Prequel provides engaging, real-world learning experiences.
Not only did he meet a bunch of goal-oriented teens who share his passion for business, but he also learned to build killer teams and network like a pro. Will Burkhart was able to walk out of Prequel with new skills and a ton of inspiration.
Where will your startup journey take you? Join Prequel's Summer Program this summer to find out! Start your entrepreneurial adventure with Prequel.
