This week’s feature interview is with Colby Triolo (left), co-founder of The Worldwide Travel Network, a platform that connects solo-travelers with one another. We asked Colby a few questions to learn more about her experiences of creating a start-up, and where The Worldwide Travel Network is headed in the future.
Q1. How were you and your co-founder Brynne able to turn your dream of connecting solo-travelers into a real platform?
A big part of our success in terms of making the leap from idea to reality has been Cornell's incubator: eLab. We were accepted last Fall and it has provided many resources in terms of mentorship, experience, and teaching us the ropes. In addition, we both have 'go-getter' attitudes. Once we knew we had the idea, it was pretty much all hands on deck 'lets get this done' kind of attitudes.
Q2: How do you balance your student life with co-owning a business?
It's hard. But it's definitely gotten easier. For me, an important thing is to prioritize and (sadly) get comfortable saying no to a lot of things when you have to. I don't think a lot of people realize everything you have to give up to run a successful startup, let alone in college. I've learned to say no, I've learned to stick my ground even with friends pushing back against me, I've accepted that I won't have the 'typical college experience', but I've also decided that I will make any decision I have to for my definition of success
Q3: What are your hopes for The Worldwide Travel Network a year from today?
A year from today, we want to be known. We want people to open up our platform and see what's available instead of deciding not to travel because they don't have someone to go with.
Q4: How can traveling Cornellians get connected with The Worldwide Travel Network?
TheWorldwideTravelNetwork.com is our MVP model, and keep your eyes out for our mobile app coming soon.