Want to get better at networking? Try this app by TMU students
The founders of the app Steer say the more students network and connect with others, the easier networking will become. (Photo: Vitaly Gariav/Unsplash)
For many university students, the idea of networking can feel intimidating, awkward or even unnecessary – especially if you’re still figuring out what you want to do after you graduate.
But third-year economics and finance student Nicole De Las Casas and recent graduate Tyler Squibb (economics and finance ’25) say building connections early can open doors you never knew existed.
The pair met through Investa Insights, a student investment club at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).
Together with Aleksander Strazisar (economics and finance ’25) they co-founded Steer (external link) , an early stage startup and networking app that is designed to help students track and manage professional relationships.
Faculty of Arts student Nicole De Las Casas and recent Faculty of Arts graduates Tyler Squibb and Aleksander Strazisa co-founded Steer, a networking app to help students make connections and boost their career prospects.
Why they built Steer
The idea came from frustration. Networking through LinkedIn and cold-emailing professionals took too much time and rarely worked.
“The biggest problem with LinkedIn is that many professionals don’t check their messages,” adds De Las Casas.
Squibb agrees.
“I could have thousands of connections on LinkedIn and hundreds of people I’m trying to message but I have no way to track it,” he said. “With Steer, you just open the app, find someone interesting, send a message and be done in a minute instead of spending an hour on LinkedIn and email. Then you can focus on the actual meeting – that's where the magic happens.”
Learning how to network (from scratch)
But before they built their app, the three co-founders had to learn networking themselves.
As Faculty of Arts students, they say networking isn't built into their programs the way it is for business students.
“I didn’t even know what networking was until I joined Investa Insights,” said Squibb. “I thought people wouldn’t want to hear from me. I didn’t realize you could just reach out to people and they would actually answer you, let alone make time to meet you, teach you things and maybe even refer you to a job.”
De Las Casas had the same experience. She says one trick is to think about networking in everyday terms.
“Networking sounds scary. But even asking a friend who works at Aritzia for a discount is a form of networking,” she said. “No one is judging you for reaching out.”
How to send your first message
Squibb offers this script for students sending their first messages:
“Hi, I see you're doing this thing. It aligns with my interests. I'm wondering if we could meet up so I could ask you a few questions related to it and your field.”
Don’t expect perfection
Both De Las Casas and Squibb believe networking matters for all students, even first-years. While they admit it can be awkward, they say that’s totally normal.
“You will probably be awkward in your first 20 coffee chats,” said Squibb. “But the more you do it, the easier it gets. Eventually, conversations start to flow naturally.”
De Las Casas adds that preparation helps a lot.
“Before you reach out, do your research. Look at the person’s LinkedIn or their company website and find something they’ve worked on that genuinely interests you. That way, you’re not just asking for a job—you’re starting a conversation about something they care about,” she said.
Taking their own advice
Armed with networking knowledge, the co-founders took their own advice.
“Nobody’s going to knock on your door with opportunities. You have to go out, connect with people, and find your passion along the way,” said De Las Casas.
Squibb took an entrepreneurship course at TMU and learned how to pitch ideas.
He says being surrounded by other entrepreneurs on campus has helped them build their startup and secure coveted spots at entrepreneurship and innovation hubs in Ontario.
To build their app, De Las Casas taught herself Javascrip, HTML and SEO. Her entrepreneurial inspiration comes from her parents who own small businesses.
“I think it’s great to have your own business because you learn so many things – not just leadership but how to think outside of the box,” said De Las Casas.
Get started
Looking for ways to build your network or start your own business? Check out TMU’s Zone Learning for classes, mentorship and job opportunities.
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