Sisterhood kept founder of startup We Are Spaces going

At the absolute bottom of Singapore-based event venue aggregator We Are Spaces‘ existence, founder and director Sharon Paul wondered if it was a great idea in the first place to plunge headlong into a startup right after university.

Unlike other fresh graduates, Paul did not have to worry about university debt due to a scholarship. But like other young entrepreneurs, she lacked career experience, a deep network, and industry expertise.

Spaces sounds good on paper. It solves a real problem: event planners are in a tizzy about the sheer volume and variety of venues. So, having a one-stop platform through which users can filter, scout, and contact venue owners sounds like a no-brainer.

The theme is tried-and-tested: find an industry mired in opacity and inefficiency, and create a place to bring all the players together.

However, there were a few problems with execution. Since each event is highly customized and has specific requirements, it meant that users will still need to visit the venue to suss out its suitability. That meant that while Spaces can provide referrals, it has less control over closing sales.

Getting traction was also hard initially. For the first six months of its existence, the startup was unable to function like a product company. Sharon says:

The website was really just a front, and no one was really using it. We had to bring in customers on our own, and direct them to venue owners.

As pressures mounted, doubts surfaced within the team. Morale sank. Sharon questioned her ability to lead a startup — it’s much harder than managing a school project. While the team remained committed and trusted one another, the founders wondered if a career in the web and mobile space was what they really wanted.

“We found it challenging to find a team that will chiong with us. It boils down to youngsters and their career aspirations, and whether you’re able to find employees that are aligned with what you’re doing.”

Complicating matters was the fact that they all had job offers while working on their idea. Sharon entertained the thought of working on it part-time while she juggles a regular job. Her mum rubbished that notion.

She told me, ‘if you take up the job, I’ll be very disappointed!’