Tejo Jehart, co-founder of Scope
Tejo is a 2nd year Engineering Science DPhil student studying heat transfer in thermal propulsion systems. He is a keen hiker which motivated him to found Scope. Scope is an app that calculates the size of your view and highlights it on the map. The app has a simple goal to find someone and somewhere with the largest view in the world, creating a community of hikers on the way. Scope is an early-stage venture with a working prototype looking for an investment. It consists of two co-founders; Tejo Jehart as a CEO and Samuel Wiese as a CTO, both DPhil students at Wolfson College, University of Oxford.
What is your background? What made you decide to get involved in supporting entrepreneurs?
My background is in mechanical engineering. Engineering has been a passion of mine that guided my previous endeavours as a Formula Student engineer and a Technical Lead and a Placement Design Engineer at AB Dynamics. I am embracing entrepreneurship for a simple reason; it gets you the closest to bringing ideas to life.
What is your definition of entrepreneurship?
A use of available resources to create a product or a service with an added value.
Scope was something I wish it existed but was not available. Now in its prototype stage, Scope is attracting considerable attention, interest, and excitement from its potential users.
What would you say are the top 3 skills that needed to be a successful entrepreneur? Why?
Adaptability, ability to learn fast, and empathy. When designing a product, be prepared for a constant change. Whether that’s a change in the market, an obstacle that you have not envision previously, or a market feedback that is guiding you to diverge. Being able to adapt quickly to these changes is crucial. And fast learning is essential for that. A change is a norm in personal lives of people you work with as well. It is important to embrace that with empathy and provide an environment of comfort and inclusivity.
What is your favourite part of being an entrepreneur?
The excitement of bringing something new and your own to the market. The ability to bring ideas to life. The freedom to manage your own work.
What individual, company or organization inspires you most? Why?
Marc Márquez. Marc is outstandingly talented motorbike racer whose incredible hunger for winning has awarded him with 8 titles as a World Champion. What takes my admiration is how he gives his absolute 100% on every race he attempts. The altitude he retained even when his career turned upside down after an arm injury in Jerez 2020. Despite numerous complications and set-backs, he newer stopped fighting, training, believing, and giving his absolute max to be back to the championship fight again. An altitude every entrepreneur could benefit from; never stop giving your 100% regardless of the obstacles you may face on the way.
If you had 5 minutes with the above individual/ company/organization, what would you want to ask or discuss?
When did he knew he wants to be a professional race rider. How he keeps his motivation so high. What does he do to boost his motivation when he experiences a set-back.
What has been your most satisfying or successful moment in business?
Seeing the prototype calculating the view for the first time.
What would you say have been some of your mistakes, failures or lessons learned as an entrepreneur?
If anything, working on a start-up has thought me to be humble and appreciate how much effort is required to establish a new company or a new product.
How have you funded your ideas?
Scope is an early-stage venture that is currently running as lean as possible and is funded by personal funds. We are, however, looking for investments.
Are there any sector-specific awards/grants/competitions that have helped you?
We have previously won a small grant from winning at the Pitch’n’mix event held by Imperial College London.
What is good about being an entrepreneur in Oxfordshire? Bad?
Oxfordshire has an amazing pool of talented, intelligent, and driven individuals. It is fantastic for networking and offers numerous opportunities to get exposed to the start-up community.
If a new entrepreneur or startup came to you looking for entrepreneurship resources, where would you send them?
Enterprising Oxford is one fantastic option that people can turn to. But there are many others. Oxford Entrepreneur and OXVC are just two more examples. Then there is of course LinkedIn and Facebook and just a little bit of Google search will do the trick.
Any last words of advice?
Dream and dream big! You are capable of a lot more than you think! Go out there, be entrepreneurial, and bring your ideas to life!
