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Invest time and passion before money in start-ups, says Civilization founder

Lark on stage at Spikes Asia

Lark on stage at Spikes Asia

Investment in time and passion is more important than a big bank balance when working on a start-up, founder of Shanghai-based creative agency Civilization has told audiences at a Spikes Asia seminar in Singapore.

Andrew Lark, the founder of the two-year-old agency offered ten points of advice to audiences on creating a new business.

“Be poor. Don’t invest too much,” he said. “Invest in your passion and your time, but don’t invest too much money.”

He cited examples of start-ups not having “fancy offices” such as Microsoft , Apple and even ad agency DDB, suggesting clients will feel they have come along with the company on a journey if the firm builds a foundation before investing a large sum of money.

“I was there when this happened,” he said of the client’s feeling of inclusion. “Being poor or starting poor is never a bad thing.”

He emphasised the importance of having a local partner in the region, as well as looking to other agencies – including the larger multi-nationals –  as partners rather then enemies or a threat, suggesting you can do better work by recognising your agency’s limitations.

Lark also told the audience to remain true to yourself, particularly when setting up an office in the Asian region.

“If you’re Indian, give your Indian perspective,” he said, warning those in China not to “out-Chinese the Chinese”.

While it is important to learn and understand both the culture and the language of the local area, he said it was also key to “retain what it is to be you”.

His final piece of advice was to produce content yourself.

Speaking at a ‘Creative Entrepreneurs in Asia’ seminar, Lark was joined on stage by Daryl Arnold, founder of Newtown Circus in Singapore who urged creative people to get involved in projects that make the world more liveable, competitive and sustainable.

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