UNSW’s Alumni Connect is set to relaunch on alumni-founded platform, Kintell

Since launching in 2019, UNSW’s Alumni Connect program has helped our 320,000+ global alumni community to stay connected, share knowledge and build professional networks. In April 2021, Alumni Connect will re-launch on the new alumni-founded platform, Kintell - an on-demand 1:1 video advice hub, where alumni can network with fellow UNSW graduates and industry leading experts through in-app messaging and video conferencing.

So, why Kintell?

UNSW is committed to providing alumni with a sophisticated platform to seek professional development opportunities and relevant career advice. By hosting Alumni Connect on the Kintell platform, alumni can connect seamlessly with each other by booking 1-1 video sessions as learners, advisors or both. 

Kintell co-founders, UNSW alumnus James Behzadi (PhD CompMath ‘17) and alumna Jane Qiu (PhD IntlMgmt ‘10), explain that the Alumni Connect user experience has been enhanced by Kintell’s ‘innovation through integration’.

“We understand that graduates are busy people, and networking, scheduling meetings and navigating video conferences can be tricky, fragmented, and time consuming. Kintell, integrates those systems at an advanced level and offers the entire networking and mentoring experience in one space – that’s the innovation that sets us apart,” says James.

The husband-and-wife duo met while studying at UNSW in 2013 and through their interdisciplinary collaboration, founded Kintell in May 2018. 

After a year of developing Kintell in their garage, Jane and James joined UNSW’s Flagship accelerator program - Founders 10X - to accelerate and support the growth of Kintell.

“When we joined the Founders 10X program we were learning from other start-ups and continuing to develop Kintell in a more creative and dynamic atmosphere.

"A start-up can be very challenging, so having a group of like-minded people cheering you on certainly makes a difference,” says Jane.

With a main team based in Australia, Kintell also has full time staff in the United Kingdom, Japan and New Zealand.

“To achieve excellence as a global business, it made sense to build a global team. So, from day one, we began searching for the best to join us in this venture, and we continue to do so,” says Jane.

“We’re also really proud that a number of UNSW alumni are among our employees and Kintell ambassadors,” adds Jane. 

As migrapreneurs (migrant+entrepreneurs), Jane and James conceived Kintell on the notion that wisdom and knowledge should be easily accessible and readily shared, regardless of background, location or income.

“Knowledge sharing is so important, but it’s also hard when we work in silos. Kintell enables global networking, and bridges the silos of different industries,” says Jane.

Recently, Kintell was one of seven Australian start-ups to receive part of a $4 million grant from the Australian Federal Government to accelerate its national commercialisation. 

“The grant is going to help us build multi-party video and recording functionality into the platform. I know it might sound simple, but technology-wise – it’s quite complicated. A huge amount of technology and engineering is required to make these things work seamlessly.

“Once we have the multi-party functionality (coming soon), advisors will be able to host classes with users from all around the world,” says James.

And the name? 

By combining the two brand principles, kindness and intelligence, Kin-tell was born.

“The way we see it, is that people on the platform are kindly offering their time as well as their professional knowledge and intelligence, so that’s how we arrived at the name, Kin-tell,” says James. 

UNSW is proud to partner with Kintell to bring you this year’s Alumni Connect. Whether you want to inspire the next generation of leaders or expand your network and skills, Alumni Connect will help you make a difference, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Start your new Alumni Connect journey today and get ready to NETWORK. LEARN. THRIVE.