Innovation
Gef’s 30 Under 30 2024 Winners: Q&A with Joshua Sinclair
Ten categories. Thirty young visionaries making their mark on the Isle of Man. Introducing the 2024 #Gef30Under30 winners: the next generation of our island’s leaders.
The Zurich Innovation winners are some of the island’s sharpest young people, making strides in their careers while always prioritising growth and learning.
What is your name and age?
Joshua Sinclair, age 19.
Job title or role in the community?
CEO & Founder of Webstartiom.com.
How did you start your career or role in the community?
I founded Webstartiom in November 2023 while still studying computer science at university. I started the company because I have always had the ambition to establish my own business. When I began the software company, it was just my grandad (the director) and me. I managed the company’s operations, financial models, deal-making, and programming aspects. In just 7 months, the company has grown to an active team of 7 people, helping us provide bespoke software solutions to both island and international companies. Now, we are creating our own SaaS product, “Maestro AI,” which has gained significant traction on the Isle of Man! The journey has been unconventional, with many failures and learning experiences along the way; without which, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Tell us about your business/industry, is there something interesting about it that most people wouldn’t expect?
A lot of people associate software developers and tech people with being quite introverted and not communicating well with non-techy individuals. However, that’s quite the opposite. Our team and customers constantly communicate with one another, working together cohesively, laughing and joking along the way. In all honesty, we’ve created lifelong friendships from a variety of backgrounds.
Tell us about why you think you won the category you did?
I believe I won the Innovation category due to my continuous efforts to solve problems. This is evident in the development of our SaaS product “Maestro AI,” as we aim to innovate within the existing data science market.
Who are your role models, either on-island or off, in your sector or outside of it?
I have always been fascinated by Steve Jobs and Elon Musk and how they have shaped the world we know today. They are innovators who have always inspired me. I have read both of their biographies and am captivated by their successes and failures.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best piece of advice I received is that each person has three core fundamentals: “Me,” “Work,” and “Family,” represented by pillars holding up a roof (the person). From time to time, we should review these three pillars to see if any of them have cracks. If attention is not paid to one that keeps cracking, it will eventually fall and have a direct impact on the other pillars. Always make sure to assess these three pillars.
What are your plans for the future?
My plan is to establish my company as one of the leading tech innovators and join the big players like Apple, Google, Tesla, and Salesforce. I hope to build many more companies that focus on research and development in renewable energy sources to ensure we preserve the earth we live on.
What changes do you hope to see in your sector or community in the coming years?
I hope to see more successful tech companies give back to their local communities, helping school children and local residents flourish, while inspiring others. I also hope the sector as a whole encourages young individuals to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit, understanding that failure and mistakes are important lessons for growth and success.
What, for you, are the benefits of staying on or moving back to the island for young people under 30?
The island is a perfect place for anyone starting a new business. The small, tight-knit community of experienced professionals is very approachable, making it easy to learn from their careers and pick their brains. Everyone is always willing to help one another out, and the island offers an ideal market for testing new creations or innovations before going global.
What does being a Gef’s 30 Under 30 winner mean to you?
It means a great deal to me to be selected as one of Gef’s 30 Under 30 for 2024. I’m incredibly thankful and grateful to everyone who nominated me for the award! Being one of Gef’s 30 Under 30 winners has provided me with my first career-based milestone and achievement in my short time as a business owner. It makes me hungry for more and motivates me to keep going!
What advice do you have for someone thinking about nominating themself for Gef’s 30 Under 30 in the future?
If you keep your head down, work harder than anyone you know, continuously learn from others, and recognise that failures and mistakes are some of your biggest allies in your career, you can achieve whatever you want!
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