Student Startup Lab: HOW DO STARTUPS FIND & REACH CUSTOMERS?

HOW DO STARTUPS FIND & REACH CUSTOMERS?
Based on conversations with founders and students, one challenge surfaced again and again: Finding and reaching customers for your startup
Student Startup Lab is designed to tackle exactly that.
Through founder roundtables, interactive discussions, startup challenges, and hands-on activities, participants will explore how startups acquire customers, validate ideas, and navigate the early stages of growth. More than just another networking event, Student Startup Lab is also the launch of the Student Startup Club — a cross-university community for student founders and aspiring entrepreneurs to learn, connect, and build together.
Whether you’re validating an idea, looking for your first customer, or seeking like-minded builders, this is a space to gain practical insights and meaningful connections.

Founder Roundtables & Challenge Mapping
Meet fellow founders and aspiring entrepreneurs through facilitated small-group discussions.
Participants will share:
What they’re building
Their entrepreneurial journeys
Current challenges and questions
What support they are looking for
Insights from these discussions will be brought into the panel session, ensuring that the conversation addresses real challenges faced by participants.

Interactive Founder Panel
Theme: HOW DO STARTUPS FIND & REACH CUSTOMERS?
Hear directly from a founder as they share practical lessons on:
Getting the first customers
Customer acquisition strategies
Marketing and growth
Validation and product-market fit
Mistakes, pivots, and lessons learned
Questions raised during the roundtables will be brought to the panel for an open and interactive discussion.

Customer Hunt Camp
Work together with fellow participants to tackle a shared startup scenario.
Each team will identify:
Who the target customer is
Where to find them
What message to communicate
One practical strategy to gain their first or next customers
This activity focuses on simple, low-cost actions that founders can implement immediately.

Startup Scenario Challenge
Every group will receive a different startup challenge and develop a Customer Rescue Plan.
Teams will identify:
The real customer problem
Their target customer
A customer acquisition strategy
A 7-day action plan
Just when the plan is ready, a surprise Founder Survival Twist will be introduced:
“You now have a $0 marketing budget and only 7 days. What changes?”
Groups will adapt their strategies and present their solutions, followed by practical feedback from experienced founders.

Student Startup Club Launch
Student Startup Lab marks the launch of the Student Founders Club — a growing community of student founders, builders, and aspiring entrepreneurs across universities.
Participants will be introduced to future initiatives, collaborations, and opportunities to continue learning and building beyond the event.

Agenda
2nd July 2026 (Thursday)
5:45 PM — Registration & Networking
6:00 PM — Welcome Address & Introduction to ThinkX, Staytion & Student Startup Club
6:10 PM — Founder Roundtables & Challenge Mapping
6:35 PM — Interactive Founder Panel: HOW DO STARTUPS FIND & REACH CUSTOMERS?
7:15 PM — Customer Hunt Camp
7:35 PM — Startup Scenario Challenge
8:10 PM — Group Presentations
8:25 PM — Founder Feedback & Key Takeaways
8:35 PM — Student Startup Club Sharing & Next Steps
8:45 PM — Networking & Refreshments
Light refreshments will be provided.

Who’s This For
Student founders
Aspiring entrepreneurs
University entrepreneurship communities
Startup builders and innovators
Students exploring startup ideas
Anyone interested in customer acquisition, validation, and growth

About ThinkX Global
ThinkX Global is Southeast Asia’s strategic venture architect, shaping the future of entrepreneurship, ecosystems, and NextGens. With offices in Singapore, Brunei, Thailand and Chongqing, we design, build, and scale profitable ventures and innovation arms, partnering with governments, corporates, and institutions to unlock regional growth. With over 1,000 startups supported, US$25 million raised, and 20+ innovation and ventures arms launched, we bridge the gap between validation and execution—transforming bold ideas into sustainable, revenue-driven businesses. From shaping policies through pilot programmes to guiding NextGens in turning inheritance into innovation, ThinkX delivers outcomes that last. From Ideas to Impact. From Vision to Venture. From Strategy to Scale. We do not just talk about innovation. We build it, together.
For more information, visit www.thinkxglobal.com.