163 - She SKIPPED COLLEGE to Build a Startup During the Pandemic! Amanda Cua Reveals Her Journey

In this captivating episode, Adrian and Amanda Cua discuss her unexpected decision to skip college and embark on an entrepreneurial journey during the pandemic. Amanda shares how she utilised a gap year to create a successful newsletter company, BackScoop, in Southeast Asia. She delves into the challenges she faced, the strategies she used to grow her subscriber base, her thoughts on the media landscape, and her experiences with impostor syndrome. Tune in to learn about Amanda's inspiring journey and get valuable insights on building a startup from scratch.---Amanda Cua is a Filipino entrepreneur known for founding Backscoop, a popular newsletter focused on Southeast Asian tech and business news. She started the newsletter after deciding not to pursue university, aiming to provide easily digestible information on startups in the region. Backscoop has gained a significant following, including investors and startup founders. Cua has also hosted the podcast "One More Scoop" and has been featured on Forbes' "30 Under 30 Asia" list. ---This episode is brought to you by Deel‬, the all-in-one platform simplifying global team management with payroll, HR, IT, and compliance solutions, trusted by over 35,000 businesses worldwide. Learn more at ⁠⁠https://deel.com/adriantan⁠⁠. 00:00 Introduction01:39 Who is Amanda Cua02:00 The Evolution of BackScoop02:48 Challenges and Inspirations03:32 Skipping College for Entrepreneurship04:11 The Decision Between UK and US Education05:05 First Steps into the Startup World08:16 Building a Network from Zero11:23 Growth Hacking Strategies14:16 Newsletter Evolution and Team Challenges17:00 Challenges in Content Creation17:59 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome22:19 Daily Routine and Health Focus24:00 Impact of Moving to Singapore26:37 Opportunities in New Media33:13 Advice for Aspiring Founders---Where to find Amanda Cua:LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cua/BackScoop: https://backscoop.comWhere to find Adrian:LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriantanck/⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠adriantan.com.sg⁠⁠📕 No More Bosses: https://amzn.asia/d/abmPxU6 Get full access to Will That Work? at www.adriantan.com.sg/subscribe