- Name: Joshua Mitcham
- Business: Audemic
- Location: United Kingdom
- Website: Audemic.io
In our latest feature for 'Entrepreneur of the Week', we delve into the inspiring journey of Joshua Mitcham, the founder of Audemic. His story is a fascinating account of how personal frustration can be the catalyst for innovative solutions, especially in the realm of academia and research.
Audemic's inception was rooted in Joshua's own challenges with accessing research papers. Traditionally limited to printed PDFs or online reading, he recognised that these documents, rich in crucial information, needed a more dynamic approach for consumption. This led to the creation of Audemic, an ingenious platform that reimagines how we engage with research papers by offering an alternative: listening to them and their summaries.
The realisation of a market need came through Joshua's introspection as an intellectual. Conversations with fellow researchers, academics, and consultants revealed a shared frustration, underscoring a broader market demand for a solution like Audemic. This understanding was instrumental in shaping the business's trajectory.
Embarking on a venture in the Edtech space, however, was fraught with challenges. One significant hurdle was the initial focus on selling directly to universities. Recognising the need for a strategic pivot, the Audemic team introduced a freemium B2C version of their product. This shift proved to be a masterstroke, leading to over 12,000 verified users and more than 220 paid B2C users within a year of launching their MVP.
In assembling his founding team, Joshua sought individuals with complementary skills to his own. His quick, dynamic approach was balanced by his co-founders' attention to detail and perfectionism. This synergy proved to be crucial in the company's growth. His advice to budding entrepreneurs is to acknowledge personal limitations and assemble a team that fills those gaps.
Looking towards the future, Audemic has set its sights on an ambitious goal. By 2030, the company aspires to significantly contribute to the dissemination of knowledge by developing tools that eliminate learning barriers, democratise access to research, and simplify complex ideas into universally understood knowledge.
Operating from the United Kingdom, Joshua highlights resilience as the most critical skill for an entrepreneur. His motivation stems from the challenge of materialising a concept that inherently deserves to exist. His entrepreneurial journey has enhanced his resilience, sparked creativity, and bolstered his confidence.
For those dreaming of starting their own business, Joshua advises maintaining a balance between strategic and tactical thinking, ensuring that both elements are considered in decision-making.
Audemic's innovative approach to making research more accessible is transforming the landscape of academic consumption. For more information about their work, visit Audemic.io.
Joshua Mitcham's story with Audemic is a testament to the transformative power of entrepreneurship. It highlights the importance of identifying a personal need that resonates widely, the value of strategic adaptability, and the strength found in a well-rounded team.