How I've Freaked Out and Decided to Build a Startup of My Own

The Unlikely Founder's Journey

I never imagined I'd become a startup founder. In fact, I've always explicitly told everyone that I shouldn't be one. That I'm not to be trusted with building a business in any way, especially not one of my own.

Yet, here I am, a bit more than a year later – doing exactly that. So, how did this dramatic shift happen?

Heartbroken by a Startup

Since turning 25, I realized my life's ambition was to make a positive difference in the world. Joining a cancer care startup seemed the perfect choice—what more could I want? But as I quickly learned, shiny promises and noble missions don't always pan out in the startup world.

It's brutal to watch something you've poured your heart into fall apart, especially when you're powerless to stop it.

After that painful experience, I decided if I ever joined another early-stage startup, I'd only do it as a co-founder. No more suffering from someone else's decisions and vetoes.

A Disappointing Job Market

Knowing what you want to do is a double-edged sword. After working on something you're passionate about, everything else feels lackluster. As I was preparing to move permanently back to London and browsed job boards, the market seemed full of uninspiring options.

The few roles that did interest me in the real impact space were poorly paid. I realized if I wanted to break the glass ceiling while doing something I love, I needed to think outside the box.

Realizing I Had Nothing to Lose

I was on the verge of quitting my job anyway, with no significant promotions or hefty benefits packages on the horizon. With no family to support or mortgage to pay, my late twenties seemed like the last few years I'd have this freedom. It was now or never.

Although I didn't have substantial savings to invest, I figured this would push me to work harder and be more creative. I had to generate or raise money from scratch—a daunting yet exciting challenge.

Ensuring Real Impact

It's crucial for me that my work makes the intended difference. With my own startup, I hold the reins. My mission is the highest priority, followed by making a sustainable income. I'm not letting anyone get in the way of that. Currently, we're in a position to choose our stakeholders and investors to ensure everything aligns with our mission.

Embracing the Experiment

I'm well aware that over 90% of startups fail. But that's okay. Worst case, I return to employment. However, a few months in, and I feel if this doesn't work, I'll just try again. And maybe again after that. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be sharing these stories from my yacht.

Embarking on this path was never in my plan, yet here I am, learning and growing every day. So far, it's been a journey filled with unexpected turns, and I'm eager to see where it leads.

I hope you'll join me as I continue to navigate the unpredictable world of startups. Welcome to my unexpected founder's story!

Stay tuned for my upcoming articles to learn how I found my co-founder, how we're bootstrapping our first product part-time and at almost no cost, and what it's like to be raising for an impact venture.

Oh, and follow my LinkedIn for more frequent updates and reflections.