We at Superangel are glad to welcome Harshita to Superangel team for the next 8 weeks. Harshita joined us through 101 Fellowship – a practical program designed for young people who are interested in venture capital.
What Is Your Background?
I am a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Computer Science, Economics, and Mathematics. My work experience has been quite diverse for the past four years. I have interned as a data scientist at Discover Financial, a software developer at Liberty Mutual, and a business consultant for my university. I have found all of my work experiences to be incredibly fulfilling, but what I am most proud of, is my time as a business consultant. In this role, I was able to help 20 startups get their bearings and put them on the path to success.
Why Venture Capital?
I chose to enter the world of venture capital for two reasons. First, I want to be a part of a field where my experience in technology and business would make me a valuable asset. Second, and most importantly, I want to be a part of a culture that is constantly innovating and making the world a better place. Startup culture is frequently disrupting markets and changing lives. I believe being a part of startup culture through venture capital allows me to be an integral part of this phenomenon through supporting innovators with great ideas and guiding startups towards creating a new and better reality.
Startup You’d Invest Your Tuition Fee In?
Airbnb. I would invest in Airbnb because of its product management processes and focus on customer experiences. Brian Chesky, the CEO of Airbnb, is unmatched when it comes to finding what consumers not only want but desperately need. The company’s ability to innovate and overcome new hurdles shows that the company can be successful and resilient in the long run. Additionally, I find Airbnb’s journey from a place where people could rent out their apartments or mattresses to strangers to now creating an entire personalized vacation experience to be quite innovative and inspiring.
What Book/Podcast Do You Most Frequently Recommend To Friends And Family And Why?
Books I often recommend to people are: Outliers, the Field to Human-Centered Design Thinking, and the Harry Potter series. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell is a great book that examines success and failure and what factors help create the former. I found the anecdotal snippets of the book to help put my life in perspective and help me question my internal dialogue of what the meaning of success and failure is in my own life. I found the Field to Human-Centered Design Thinking to be an unconventional book to recommend to people. However, I found the book beneficial to those wanting to become an entrepreneur. It discusses how to create products best for the user but also provides examples of where human-centered design has benefited companies and consumers. Lastly, I will always recommend the Harry Potter series, because, in a year like 2020, everyone could use a small escape to a world full of wonder and magic.