From Marketing, Research to Real Impact: Growing with Purpose at First Rate Connect

1. Summarize your overall experience in one sentence: 

First Rate Connect is a great environment to grow, full of learning, ownership, and support, where I gained real hands-on experience and felt truly valued as part of the team. 

2. Highlight key tasks or projects you were involved in and what you learned: 

One of the main projects I worked on was researching the fintech ecosystem in Sri Lanka and contributing to a white paper that explored the digital economy and fintech startup landscape. Through this, I learned how to conduct market research across different regions and gained deeper insight into the fintech industry. 

Another key task was conducting marketing strategies and creating LinkedIn content to promote First Rate Connect and the events we hosted, such as APAC Redemptive Business Summit and Agentic AI social mixers. This helped me understand how to communicate a enterprise’s value clearly, engage a professional audience, and execute marketing efforts with real-world impact. 

Photos from APAC Redemptive Business Summit

3. Share new skills or knowledge gained: 

This internship sharpened my regional market research skills and gave me hands-on experience in marketing, from setting strategies to executing plans, rather than just assisting from the sidelines. 

I also developed a stronger understanding of the fintech and startup industries, including how accelerators support early-stage companies and help them scale and connect to a broader market such as South Asia and US market. 

Besides, I improved my networking abilities by attending events like the APAC Redemptive Business Summit and Agentic AI social mixers, where I met professionals from diverse backgrounds and learned how to connect and communicate more confidently in a professional setting. 

Photos from Agentic AI in FinTech Social Mixer

4. Reflect on a challenge you faced and how you navigated it: 

One challenge was the lack of available data and context when researching new markets like Sri Lanka. To overcome this, I broke the task into stages, starting by reviewing reports from credible institutions like the World Bank to build a strong foundation, then gradually piecing together market insights from multiple sources. 

5. Mention a highlight or proud moment:  

A highlight for me was when my research on Sri Lanka’s fintech ecosystem aligned with the actual conversations our manager had with partners during a business visit there. It made me feel proud that my work was going in the right direction and could support the company’s future strategy. This experience helped me see how my work could make a real impact, and I felt proud to contribute meaningfully to the future of First Rate Connect. 

6. Describe the working culture: 

The working environment was genuinely supportive. My managers, John, Charis, and Elysia always encouraged us to explore and grow. I also had the chance to meet the founders, Dave and Trina, whose people-first mindset and heartfelt passion for creating something impactful truly left an impression on me. It felt like more than just an internship, it felt like being part of a mission. 

7. Share how the internship impacted your thinking or future aspirations: 

This experience helped me mature professionally. I learned how to handle projects independently and think strategically, not just follow instructions. It also sparked a strong interest in startups and fintech, and made me more certain that I want to take on a strategic role with international exposure in the future. 

 Final note:

I’ve really learned a lot during my time as a Research and Marketing Intern at First Rate Connect. The managers—John, Charis, and Elysia—were super supportive and always encouraged us to explore, learn, and take part in new opportunities. I also had the chance to meet the founders, Dave and Trina, which was truly inspiring. From them, I could feel the heart and vision behind the company—to build something meaningful for both people and the world. It made me feel like I was really part of the team. 

Team Farewell Lunch

Some of the key things I took away from this internship: 

1. Real marketing experience – I got to actually design strategies and execute campaigns, not just watch from the sidelines. It was a great way to get hands-on experience. 

2. A deeper understanding of fintech – I learned a lot about the fintech industry and startups, and got exposed to all kinds of innovative ideas in this space. 

3. Regional market research skills – I explored the fintech and digital economy landscape in South and Southeast Asia, especially places like Sri Lanka, and picked up practical research skills along the way. 

4. Networking opportunities – I joined events like the APAC Business Summit and social mixers, met a ton of interesting people, and learned how to network more confidently. 

5. How accelerators really work – I got to see how First Rate Connect helps startups scale and reach US clients, and learned about go-to-market strategies and what it really means to find product-market fit. 

   
   

Overall, I’m super grateful for this internship. The team really listens to what you want to learn and helps you grow in that direction. The environment was welcoming, collaborative, and just a genuinely good place to be. I’ll definitely miss it!