Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Victor Cohen, founder of Testing for Victory, located in Miami, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I run a preparatory testing company for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The MCAT is a standardized test required by medical schools for admission. University students generally take the exam during their junior or senior year of college. Our company provides content reviews for everything covered on the exam.
Tell us about yourself
I am a physician training at Harvard Medical School | Cambridge Health Alliance Adult Psychiatry Residency Program. Since the MCAT is a standardized test, it is the best resource for medical schools to use for comparing the academic capabilities of students from different colleges. I was motivated to create my company when I was an undergraduate student studying for the MCAT. At the time, the only testing preparatory materials cost over $1,500. This cost led students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds to perform better on the exam and have a higher likelihood of being accepted into medical school and becoming a doctor. I created Testing for Victory to provide affordable and accessible MCAT prep to students coming from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds. My goal was to help students who cannot afford expensive test prep resources to have a better chance at getting into medical school. Helping students achieve their full potential motivates me to continue working on improving the course.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I am very proud that we have had over 10,000 students enroll in one of our courses. We have only been in business since 2020 and have been growing at a steady pace.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
While I would love to spend a lot more time on improving my business, my work as a physician resident is very demanding. I have many ideas on how I can improve the course and bring more value to my students, but implementing those ideas takes a while, given the limited free time I have available.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- See if there is a demand for your product by starting small and growing a platform. Don't hesitate to conduct surveys to gauge satisfaction and offer incentives, such as gift card giveaways, to increase response rates.
- Provide free value to your customers to create trust and establish you as a leader in your field.
- Do something meaningful that creates a real impact on people's lives. Hearing back from your customers about the positive impact you have in their life is incredibly valuable.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.testingforvictory.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/testingforvictory/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testingforvictory/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/testing-for-victory/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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