Alexa Ispas - (Research is) Cool for cats

Alexa has lived and studied in Romania, Germany, Australia, Scotland and Wales. Her experiences as a postgraduate student made her realise that there was a gap in the market for an online service where postgraduates and early career researchers could connect with their peers.

Alexa launched Research is Cool in June 2008, whilst still studying for a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. The website’s users can find others with similar research interests across different countries and academic disciplines, and search for research vacancies from universities across the world.

Gaining confidence

Starting up a business was a big step for Alexa. She explains: “None of my family or friends had ever attempted such a thing, so it took me a long time to even realise that this was a career option for me.”

Her big break came when she won a Scottish Institute for Enterprise business plan competition. “The win confirmed that my business idea was based on solid foundations, and gave me the cash I needed to hire the right people and get things off the ground.” With further funding from the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust and Business Gateway, plus support from the business incubator centre at her university, Alexa was able to move from planning her business to setting up the website.

Advice on starting up a business

One piece of advice that Alexa would offer to others thinking about setting up a business is to break down the ‘set up own business’ goal into smaller, less daunting milestones.

“The first milestone could be to find out as much as you can about the sources of support available in your area. Another could be to research potential business ideas, looking at things like competition and business models. A third milestone could be to identify a business mentor and set up a meeting to discuss your ideas.”

Winning recognition

Since winning the business plan competition, Alexa has gone on to win the BT Young Entrepreneur Award and the Abbey Santander Entrepreneurial Award from the University of Edinburgh. She was also named the Scotland International Student of the Year Award 2009 by the British Council, for her entrepreneurial contribution to the British economy as a Romanian citizen.