I started my own business during my degree

Jess Heaton, BSc Data Science graduate (2025)

I knew I wanted to try something different alongside my studies. I'd been hoping to land a summer internship, but when that didn't come through I decided to create my own opportunity!

How I turned an idea into a business opportunity

I’ve always been interested in AI. From watching creators on YouTube, I learnt quickly how to build no-code AI chatbots of my own. My idea was an automated assistant that could handle customers' queries directly on a company's website, without the need for human involvement. In summer 2024, I was working in the shops at an annual sporting event, and I pitched my idea to senior colleagues by demonstrating a chatbot – that could answer questions such as where can I park, or where can I collect tickets – using a mock version of their website. They sent me straight over to their marketing and communications lead, and my startup, Adanac, secured its first client.

 Drawing on my technical background

The fact I was studying Data Science at the University of Bristol gave me a lot of credibility with clients. The platforms that I used to build custom chatbots abstract most of the complexity away. However, when I encountered problems with responses I needed to understand the concepts behind knowledge retrieval, and my degree gave me the familiarity with code and machine learning terms in order to explain to clients what was going on.

 Challenges and opportunities

I initially set out to build a Software as a Service, something like Chatbase, where a company sets up its own bot. However, I found that each of my clients – ranging from yacht clubs to holiday rentals – had different needs, so it unexpectedly became more of an agency model, rather than a scalable business. However, I enjoyed the work so much that my studies took a hit in the first term. I made sure to prioritise exams in the second term so I'd actually graduate! It paid off, as a couple of nights before my final exam in May, a US lead came in for a voice agent. I had prepared for my exam, so I could afford to stay up all night building the proposal - and I closed the deal. Along with a 2:1 degree, it was not a bad way to end the year!

From Bristol to San Francisco

After graduating I was selected for Y Combinator’s AI Startup School in San Francisco, a flagship two-day event bringing together 2,500 AI and computer science students with leading experts including the CEOs of Microsoft and OpenAI. I met many hard-working, creative people, and Tom Blomfield, who co-founded Monzo, spoke. After the conference I emailed him and was invited to meet in London, where he shared great advice on co-founders and how US and UK startups differ.

 What’s next

Running a startup made me realise that as much as I loved building, I wanted to work with people more directly. I've spent this year completing Biology and Chemistry courses, and I’m currently aiming to secure a place in Graduate Entry Medicine next year. Although I’ve taken down Adanac’s website, there are a handful of chatbots still running. Most recently I have built a couple of agents for a Law Firm in South Carolina, and another for a project in Kansas. Adanac gave me a unique opportunity to develop my skills in diverse areas such as adaptability, trouble shooting, customer relationship management, and resilience – all of which I intend to apply in medicine!

Interview written up by Dr Joanna Jordan https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannafjordan/