This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Annie Liao, the 24-year-old startup founder of Build Club, who is based in San Francisco. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
After raising $1.75 million in funding for my AI startup last year, I quit my chief of staff job at a Series B startup and moved to San Francisco to go all in as a solo founder.
The startup I used to work for had three co-founders, and I saw how they relied on each other for opinions and advice. If one person were sick, the other two could pick up the slack. As a solo founder, I’m completely on my own.
The experience has been risky and exciting, but the reality is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I also think people underestimate me as a female founder, but I take precautions and work hard to be taken seriously and prove them wrong.
I’m consistently building my mental resilience
I have a team of five employees operating across different time zones, but I spend most of my day working alone. My task list is endless, and there’s always another goal to chase, but my mindset is to just keep going and hope the hard work pays off. I’m building mental resilience every day, but there are times it’s hard to do it all alone.
The day we announced our raise should’ve been one of my happiest days as a founder, but it wasn’t. The night before, the landing page wasn’t ready, and my team of five had gone to bed, so it was just me working on the Webflow landing page until 3 a.m. I remember sitting there and having a bit of a cry to myself.
In that moment, I remember telling myself that this is the lifestyle I had chosen, and I was committed to building my business through the tough times. Even if things don’t work out, I see this as a giant journey where I’m upskilling as a person.
There are pros to scaling a startup alone, but I’d consider adding the right cofounder
I love that I can take risks and move fast. I have a very clear vision and mission for my startup, so being a solo founder allows me to make quick decisions and keep us moving in a streamlined direction.
I also have a specific way I prefer things done. Even when it comes down to things like hiring methods, it’s nice not to have to worry about a cofounder with an opposing opinion. That being said, it would mean a lot to have someone to share the highs and lows with.
I like finding friends to work with, and I’ve found a lot of comfort in the fact that my startup is naturally community-driven. But a lot of my days are just me sitting alone at a WeWork until 3 a.m. I don’t always feel like I have someone I can run to when things go wrong or even someone to just jam ideas with.
I’d add a cofounder if I found someone who has the same all-in mindset that I have. It’s like a relationship in the sense that you’re building a future together.
As a woman and solo founder, I’m more cautious about how I come across
I believe most people just want to work with smart, competent, and passionate individuals, regardless of gender. However, as a female founder, I have to take certain things into consideration.
When my female founder friends and I attend a tech event, we’ll make sure not to wear much makeup or dress up too much. It’s almost as though having time to be fashionable might make us seem like we’re not serious enough founders.
I’ve also noticed that a lot of male founders will grab drinks with an investor to close a deal, but as a woman, I feel hesitant to do that. I fear it might come across wrong. I’m even cautious about how I show up on social media, from the clothes I wear in pictures to making sure it looks like I don’t get out too much.
Don’t underestimate yourself
I think people underestimate female founders. However, a lot of us are equally, if not more, ambitious than our male counterparts.
My advice to someone who wants to be a startup founder is just do it. Take a bet on yourself and see what you can do.
Do you have a story to share about what it’s like being a solo founder? If so, please reach out to the reporter [email protected].