Tan Dang, co-founder of Mein Skincare
Tan Dang is a current MBA student at Said Business School, the University of Oxford and the founder of Mein - our 2024 #StartedinOxford Demo Night winners! Mein is a startup that uses Machine Learning and Computer Vision to match skincare products to individual needs. Since everyone's skin is unique in terms of type, tone, and texture, personalized advice is crucial. However, with so many brands and products available, finding the right ones can be difficult. Mein solves this by analyzing your skin through our Computer Vision models and providing customized recommendations. The startup are still in the early stages with a team consisting of fellow MBA students at Said Business School, the University of Oxford.
I studied Computational Biology as an undergraduate at the Technical University of Munich. After graduating, I worked at
Amazon in Tokyo, gaining experience in Business Intelligence, Program Management, and Finance. Alongside my professional work, I enjoyed building smaller web services and found great satisfaction in seeing real customers use them. This passion for creating useful products made entrepreneurship the logical next step for me, allowing me to build something that can positively impact many users.
For me, entrepreneurship is about building something that has a positive real-world impact on many people.
In my opinion, having a good idea is overrated. There's a common belief that entrepreneurship is reserved for those with a billion-dollar idea, but what truly matters is getting started and executing well. The journey of entrepreneurship is not about waiting for the perfect idea; it's about taking action and refining your approach along the way. Execution is key, and the ability to adapt and pivot based on feedback and new insights is crucial. Even if you discover flaws in your initial ideas and assumptions, these challenges are opportunities for growth and improvement. The entrepreneurial process is dynamic, and success often comes from persistence, learning, and the willingness to adjust your course as needed.
In my opinion, a broad skill set across all business areas is essential for successful entrepreneurship. As resources are limited in the beginning, an entrepreneur must be willing and able to get their hands dirty and handle various tasks themselves. Additionally, having an open mindset is crucial since there is often limited data available in the early stages. Being receptive to advice from experienced mentors and advisors can provide valuable insights and guidance. Finally, perhaps the most important quality for me is perseverance. Every entrepreneur will face major setbacks along their journey, and the ability to persist through these challenges is key to achieving success.
Seeing our service or products actually being used by customers and improving their lives in any way is incredibly rewarding. It validates our hard work and motivates us to keep pushing forward, knowing that we're making a positive impact.
The story of Airbnb is incredibly inspiring to me. The company's founders, Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk, started with a simple idea: renting out air mattresses in their apartment to conference attendees who couldn't find hotel rooms. This humble beginning taught them the importance of solving real problems with creative solutions. What truly stands out about Airbnb is their perseverance and adaptability. When they faced initial struggles, they didn't give up. Instead, they pivoted their business model, improved their platform, and continuously learned from their experiences. They even resorted to selling custom cereal boxes to fund their startup in the early days. Airbnb's success story is a testament to the power of execution, resilience, and innovation. Despite numerous challenges and setbacks, they managed to transform the hospitality industry, creating a global community and redefining how people travel. Their journey highlights the importance of staying persistent, being open to change, and constantly iterating on ideas to achieve success.
If I had 5 minutes with the Airbnb founders, I would ask them about the moment they realized it was time to pivot their business model. Specifically, I would like to know what signals or feedback they received that made it clear their initial approach wasn't working, and how they decided on the new direction to take. Understanding their thought process and the factors that influenced their decision to pivot could provide invaluable lessons for navigating similar challenges in my own entrepreneurial journey.
Winning the 2024 #StartedinOxford Demo Night!
Work on something that you are not really passionate about!
Mostly bootstrapped and grants but also some funds from angels.
Being an entrepreneur in Oxfordshire has great benefits, especially being close to Oxford University. There's plenty of support and talent, with many smart people from different fields. However, the entrepreneurship ecosystem can sometimes be a bit chaotic, which can make it hard to navigate all the opportunities and resources.
EnSpire and the Entrepreneurship Centre at Said Business School have been incredibly supportive. Additionally, we participated in the student-led OX1 Incubator and the university-led OU Incubator, both of which have provided valuable resources and guidance.
The Entrepreneurship Centre at the Said Business School and EnSpire.
Find people you truly enjoy working with
