How I Got Into the Startup Scene in My Country

Looking back, one of the best things I did during university was actively surrounding myself with people who shared the same hunger to grow. Having peers who kept up with tech trends, discussed new frameworks, or just pushed each other forward made a big difference.

One common misconception is that internships are something you do only in your final year. That’s not true. I landed my first internship in my second year. If you can show your worth, many startups are willing to take a chance on you early. Just don’t wait until “internship season” — they don’t always open roles on a fixed schedule. Apply early, reach out, and remember: you can always negotiate the joining date.

University itself won’t always teach you what’s relevant in the real world. You need to take the initiative — enroll in online courses, follow GitHub repos, and keep your skills sharp. It also helps a lot to reach out to seniors who’ve interned at the companies you're aiming for. A bit of guidance or a referral can go a long way.

Lastly, focus on mastering the basics. Build a few small projects. You don’t need to be a CP wizard to get into a startup (I’ll talk about that in another article). But having the fundamentals down and being able to solve easy Leetcode problems is a solid start.