Embracing Growth: A Reflection on Our Journey Through the Stern Venture Fellows Accelerator

As our time with the NYU Stern Venture Fellows (SVF) program draws to a close, we are reflecting on the incredible experience that has shaped our venture, Flectino.ai. This fulfilling journey has empowered us as entrepreneurs, providing invaluable insights and connections that have contributed to our growth as more mature business leaders. In this blog post, we invite you to join us as we look back at the progress we’ve made, the milestones we’ve achieved, and the moment that left a lasting impact during our time with NYU Stern.

From the very beginning, we recognized the potential of the SVF program to be a game-changer for Flection.ai. Our goal before the program was clear: finish our MVP and refine our business model. The mentorship, expert guidance, and unwavering support from the NYU team have been pivotal in shaping our vision and business strategy. The progress we’ve witnessed has been truly remarkable.

One of the defining milestones was successfully completing the game design, making it more inclusive to meet our customers’ needs. Achieving this milestone required countless hours of hard work, dedication, and collaboration with our mentors (a big thanks to Erik Chan and Jie Qian) in the program. The SVF provided us with fertile ground to test, iterate, and optimize our product.

Among the numerous enriching experiences during the accelerator, one particular moment stands out like a beacon in our memory. It was during a dinner with David Ko, CEO of Calm, where we had the opportunity to learn from him and his friends, who all possess extensive experience in the venture world.

He emphasized the importance of investing in people as the key to success. Finding the right team with shared values and vision cannot be understated. This resonated with us, especially as we recently welcomed Abilmansur, a Unity developer, to our team, a significant milestone achieved this summer.

The SVF has been more than just a program; it has been a catalyst for growth, an incubator of ideas, and a community of unwavering support. The connections we made with fellow entrepreneurs have flourished into friendships and partnerships that will extend beyond the conclusion of the accelerator. We are grateful to Ayman, Tiffany, and others for sharing their journeys and inspiring us.

In conclusion, the SVF has been an awe-inspiring journey that has surpassed our expectations in every regard. We extend our gratitude to Tyana, Steph, and the other SVF team members for building a community where early-stage ventures can thrive and find their own path to success.

As we prepare to embark on the next chapter of our entrepreneurial adventure, we carry with us the lessons learned, the connections forged, and the unwavering belief that we can create a lasting impact with Flection.ai. The future is bright, and we owe it all to the transformative experience with NYU Stern.

Written By: Alexandr Pak (Postdoc)