110 — What I Learned Building the World’s Largest Student Accommodation Marketplace

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ScaleHQ Podcast

Sean Steele

132 episodes

1 day ago

Founders who've scaled. Founders still striving. What could you achieve if you knew the secrets and strategies of the Founders who've already achieved scale? Join Sean Steele as he shares his insights from growing 4 companies by a total of 100m in revenue, interviewing Founders who've made it and learning from industry experts. The ScaleHQ Podcast is more about strategy and practical tools, than inspiration.

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Entrepreneurship

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110 — What I Learned Building the World’s Largest Student Accommodation Marketplace | Luke Nolan

ScaleHQ Podcast

49 minutes 30 seconds

1 year ago

110 — What I Learned Building the World’s Largest Student Accommodation Marketplace | Luke Nolan

Join us for this week’s ScaleHQ Podcast with Luke Nolan as he shares his transformative insights on building the world’s largest student accommodation marketplace and provides practical advice for entrepreneurs aiming to scale their businesses.

In this ScaleHQ episode, Sean sits down with Luke Nolan, the visionary Founder of Student.com, the world’s largest student accommodation marketplace.

With operations in over 40 countries and close to $3 billion in transactions, Luke shares his journey from startup to global success, offering valuable insights and strategies for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Here are some key points discussed in the interview: • Genesis of Student.com: Luke recounts the "aha moments" that led to the creation of Student.com.

As an international student himself, he identified a massive opportunity to simplify the student accommodation process.

His unique perspective and firsthand experience fueled his passion for solving this problem on a global scale.

• Scaling through Technology: Luke emphasises the importance of leveraging technology to scale the business.

He shares how early investments in tech helped Student.com expand rapidly, particularly in large markets like China.

By focusing on creating a seamless user experience, the platform was able to cater to millions of students worldwide.

• Overcoming Challenges and Pivots: The journey wasn’t without its hurdles.

Luke discusses a major pivot that involved reducing operational costs and laying off 42 employees in a single day.

This painful but necessary step was crucial for the company's long-term sustainability and growth.

• Leadership Transition: Luke talks about his recent transition from CEO to a more strategic role, bringing in a new CEO to lead the company.

He shares the steps taken to ensure a smooth transition and the importance of building a strong leadership team to drive the business forward.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about Luke Nolan’s strategies for scaling a business, navigating challenges, and creating a global impact in the student accommodation industry.

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Watch or listen to the full episode on: Spotify: • https://loom.ly/NuK50WA Apple: • https://loom.ly/-oy8jL4 YouTube: • https://loom.ly/u_vibuw ScaleHQ website: • https://www.scalehq.com.au/110