Writing a bachelor's thesis at a start-up

Practice-oriented and varied - writing a bachelor's thesis with a start-up

The bachelor's thesis is an essential step towards completing one's studies. Ideally, one should seek a topic that one is passionate about. Chantal Fouquet, an alumna of the Sustainable Tourism program at Rhine-Waal University, wrote her bachelor's thesis with the start-up socialbnb. This young company is a travel platform where unused spaces from social and ecological projects or NGOs are offered to interested travelers as a lodging option. By staying on-site, the projects have a source of income apart from donations and can finance their work. In this interview, Chantal talks about how she came to write her thesis at a start-up and why it is worth doing so.

StartGlocal: What did you specifically investigate in your bachelor's thesis?

Chantal: The topic of my thesis was "Challenges of NGOs - Mapping the Needs of Socialbnb Partner Organizations in Peru." The aim was to find out what challenges NGOs in Peru face in general in the country and specifically in relation to using the platform. The goal of the work was to recognize the needs and problems of non-governmental organizations and to take them into account for future entrepreneurial decisions. Through further research and comparisons with other countries, the start-up could optimize its adaptation to the target group and satisfy the needs of the host organizations.

StartGlocal: How did you come to write your thesis with this start-up?

Chantal: I chose socialbnb for several reasons. On the one hand, I wanted to have a practical reference. On the other hand, I had already heard about socialbnb several times, including through a guest lecture in my program "Sustainable Tourism." Moreover, I have been interested in the topic of start-ups for some time.

StartGlocal: In your opinion, are there any special features when writing a bachelor's thesis with a start-up?

Chantal: The special thing about cooperating with a start-up is that the team is usually young and innovative. For example, my supervisor was very open in choosing the topic. In addition, especially at a start-up, one can investigate many areas of interest at the beginning, thus preventing any possible missteps for the company. The disadvantage is that not many data are available, and one cannot examine developments. Start-ups are still in their infancy.

StartGlocal: Would you recommend start-ups as an environment for a bachelor's thesis to other students?

Chantal: Yes, because the bachelor's thesis becomes more realistic and meaningful. This strengthens motivation. And who knows, perhaps new opportunities will arise as a result.

StartGlocal: Thank you for your insights, Chantal!