Sep 9, 2024

Inside My Startup Journey: Two Years of Building, Learning, and Pivoting (Short Version)

The summer of 2022 started like any other, but things took a surprising turn. On July 1st, I found myself nervously stepping into a startup incubation program, filled with both excitement and anxiety. I planned to pitch a social media concept I’d been refining for a while, but the organizers had a different challenge for us. They pushed us to break out of our comfort zones and develop something entirely new—all within a single weekend. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I was up for it.

The first day passed quickly, filled with endless cups of coffee and brainstorming sessions. Together with two other participants, I formed a team and we set about generating ideas and attempting to create something novel. However, my teammates decided to withdraw at the end of the day. All of a sudden, I was alone. I had to work on the idea, put together a pitch deck, and get ready to make the solo presentation. I ignored the nagging panic that was there but remained hidden. I had to dig deep and find the strength to keep going; there wasn't time for doubt.

The next day brought a series of intense mentoring sessions. I met with seasoned entrepreneurs who pushed me to refine my idea. I was on my own now, but somehow, that felt freeing. The fear of speaking to an audience was replaced by a sense of purpose. I believed in what I was building, and that belief sparked confidence I didn’t know I had.

By Sunday, the final day, I was as ready as I could be. I took a deep breath, stepped on stage, and pitched my idea. We were given five minutes, but on my nerves, I rushed through it in under three. I knew it wasn’t perfect. I spoke too fast and probably overwhelmed some of the judges. But my passion was undeniable. Two judges liked the concept but mentioned my fast delivery as a setback. One judge even confessed he was left a bit confused. I walked off that stage not knowing what to think, but one thing was clear: I’d given it my all.

Following the pitches, we all got together for a bonding activity and celebrated with lots of beer. Although I didn't place among the top three, their main objective seemed to be identifying those who could launch a firm. There were only two engineers there, and they needed engineers to support their fledgling businesses. Even though I performed alone, my distinct style and perseverance would have made me a good candidate. 33 people were selected from 200 applicants for that weekend's event. Afterwards, they reduced the number to 15 for their entire program, and I was one of them.

The next stage was considerably more difficult. Within six months, we had to develop an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), with the possibility of a €150,000 pre-seed investment in exchange for 10–15 percent equity. The first two months were a slog, filled with constant idea validation, mentorship meetings, and market research. We felt as though we were always running into a brick wall because not one of our nine or ten proposals was approved. Team dynamics were also challenging. The fact that so many of us were attempting to work alone made teamwork difficult.I had been coming up with crazy ideas every 2-3 days, often without proper market research. Somehow, everyone respected me for suggesting concepts that were unconventional and difficult to build at this stage. The great thing about the program was that I was constantly pitching and meeting some of the most successful people in the world. All of this contributed to my growth as a person.

Eventually, I decided to focus on a single idea: a tennis app to help players avoid injuries by creating a digital twin—a virtual version of themselves that could live in the cloud indefinitely. It sounded bold, maybe even a bit out there, but I was all in. I put together a team. Ujwal, a skilled front-end developer, was with me from day one. Kruthi initially handled product management and UX/UI design but left after a month and a half. Olga then joined us and brought a lot to the table with her skills in product development, marketing, and UX/UI design. As the months went by, despite our efforts, progress was slower than expected. I, in particular, found myself getting distracted and procrastinating on some crucial AI features. We burned through funds without much to show for it. There were glimmers of hope—interest from the tennis community in Barcelona and some potential investors who saw the potential—but I just couldn’t deliver a finished product on time.

It became clear we needed to rethink our approach. I sought advice from top engineers in Barcelona, which was both enlightening and a bit humbling. We were aiming for the stars without building a solid rocket first. Running machine learning models in the cloud was expensive, and with limited data, training them was a challenge. After taking a step back, we regrouped and had some deep conversations with investors and potential clients.

After 4-5 months, I also tried helping other startups build their products,working part-time. However, it was crazy to juggle so many things at once and not focus on what truly mattered. I’ve realized I need to dedicate all my energy to this project. Reflecting on this journey, from those hectic early days in the incubation program to where I stand now, it’s been a wild ride—filled with stress, excitement, and unexpected twists. But I’ve learned that every twist and turn is a step toward something meaningful.

Some Crazy Ideas Along the Way:

AI-Based Medical Recommendations: An AI system that suggests personalized treatment solutions from around the world, combining medicines, herbs, and exercises.

Platform for Independent Filmmakers: An app that connects indie filmmakers with producers and audiences, with a streaming option for films that don’t get traditional distribution.

APP Cloud : A service allowing users to stream high-graphics games from small devices, leveraging cloud technology.

AI Government in Digital Space: A bold idea for a virtual government with its own laws and penalties—maybe something we’ll see 15-20 years from now.

Social Media with Credits for Likes: A platform where likes have a monetary value, requiring users to buy credits, ensuring content creators get rewarded.

These ideas, though ambitious and sometimes ahead of their time, are all part of my journey, reflecting a constant desire to push boundaries and explore new possibilities. The journey isn’t over yet; we’re approaching things differently now, focused on surpassing what we once thought we were capable of. We are driven by the hunger to build something meaningful, to work on projects that matter. No matter the setbacks, we’ll keep pushing forward, one way or another.

I believe that everyone is here for a reason, and it's important to give our best before we go. For some, that reason might be spending time with loved ones or exploring the world’s beauty. For others, it’s about embracing the struggle, facing fears, and creating something that lasts. We may leave this world without making a significant impact or being recognized by others—but does that truly matter? The only real choice is to keep trying and fighting for what we love.