Understanding the power of strong networks

To excel in today’s world, we must be knowledgeable, smart and disciplined. But that’s only half of the story. It’s not only what we know, but it’s also whom we know and how we combine the “what” (expertise) with the “who” (networks). Building and maintaining professional networks is an essential part of a maturing career. When networking is done right, it opens doors to new ideas, partnerships and opportunities. It is, in fact, also one of the best ways for young talents and start-up entrepreneurs to achieve their goals and set themselves up for long-term success.

Yet, networking is a soft skill we do not learn at school or university. Unfortunately, we often realize much too late the value of professional networks. It’s not easy to build a successful network – in fact, it takes thought, energy and quite some time. But as with any other skill, there is a way to improve quickly – practice. You can easily become better at networking when you put yourself out there. The earlier you start, the better. There is immense value in investing time and energy into our professional networks. And the best way to develop a strong and productive network is to create mutually beneficial relationships.

The nature and benefits of networks

So, what is a great network? The value of a network cannot be measured in numbers or quantity as it is in how willing we are to help each other and work towards a common objective. Knowing a lot of people is a good start, but it is of little real value unless these contacts become productive relationships. 

There are numerous reasons why professional networks are important: They expose us to new ideas and opinions, keep us informed and help us learn and grow, both personally and professionally. Through networking, we can gather information and industry trends, share our views and find partners, customers, and investors. Indeed, networks are an invaluable source of support, feedback, and inspiration and foster a culture of mentoring and collaboration. Moreover, it is often through networks that we meet new people whose viewpoints insights experiences differ from our own and who will challenge our assumptions and biases. 

Similarity is silver, diversity is gold

When it comes to professional networks, diversity is an often-overlooked goldmine. As humans, we tend to gather around people who are just like us. People who more or less share the same interests, passions, and opinions. And that’s important, especially for young founders. To be in touch with people who know the ins and outs of the industry you are entering is really helpful. However, it’s equally important to have a network of people whose backgrounds and skill sets are different, who challenge our point of view and our ideas, and who push us to expand our thinking. Knowing and communicating with high-quality contacts from different spheres fosters new ways of thinking and looking at problems and thus leads to new ideas and creative solutions.

As a founder, you must be willing to constantly learn new things. Especially at the early stages of setting up a company, there are a lot of unexpected issues that can happen – and, trust me: they will 😉 Starting up certainly comes with a steep learning curve. At the same time, however, it’s easy to lose sight of what is important. And this is where a strong network comes in. As the company grows, so do the challenges you have to tackle, and the more important a reliable network becomes.

Building a strong network with APX

At APX, we want to create the best possible opportunities for startups to grow. That is why we have built a network of influential contacts our startups can rely on, and why we partner with relevant players to combine and multiply the power of our shared networks. 

In 2019, we partnered with Facebook to create an acceleration program specifically for growth-stage, digital startups building with innovative technologies to help them grow even further. The Facebook Accelerator Berlin in partnership with APX offers 1:1 mentoring with dedicated Facebook, APX and industry experts and in-person training days focused on product, marketing, technology, and management. 

We are currently accepting applications for season 2 of the program, and I cannot wait to see what selected startups can make of all the opportunities and the power of our combined network,

If you are interested, read more and apply here - and hopefully, we will be part of each others networks very soon.