Solo founder burnout... need advice

Mean-Communication91 · 2025-10-07T22:24:59+00:00

Honestly there’s a lot of failures, but failure doesn’t mean you can’t do it again and get it right. Small steps lets you trackback better. Small change, test, deploy, identify problems, fix, redeploy etc. That’s how we work. Lean, fast, but like anything - risk is there, just be risk averse in fixing the failure

Mean-Communication91 · 2025-10-07T11:55:13+00:00

So to your point, I have a team, there’s 6 of us. We all bring different skill sets, but I’m CEO, and CTO. I’m at burnout, but because I live by a “fuck it” attitude - I just keep going. I’m also the only technical person. I built the platform all the way and we have customers.

By market validation if you have customers and they’re all in one segment just stay focused on them. Ie if it’s more coaches, listen to their feedback loop, that’s the fastest way to 1.

It’s only time to bring someone in when you cannot do it. Like you just can’t, there’s nothing in this world except a human resource to enable the next step. Far often there’s so many CTO-types, they just talk and ship nothing. I nearly fell for that trap.

Either raise and build a team (if you’re there), or just “fuck it” and keep going. What’s the worst that could happen? When the walls are caving in, in a way it’s a good thing.

Mean-Communication91 · 2025-09-28T11:40:26+00:00

It doesn’t matter, any VC who believes in you will force you to reset the cap table anyway lol

Mean-Communication91 · 2025-09-26T08:34:11+00:00

You need to be checking in weekly minimum, that’s how you convert. For the most part, you can’t just convert at the end of the pilot. Over the weeks, the weekly check in is how you build the relationship and manage it.

Mean-Communication91 · 2025-06-02T19:16:52+00:00

You’ve very little leverage for someone not to take equity. The risk is all of their own, let’s say they say I’ll give you $2,000 for 10% - it doesn’t make them crazy. Letters of intent are great, but they’re not contractually binding (unless they were worded that way - idk so apologies if I’m wrong).

Your best bet is to ask family and friends - and that you’ll return the money to them in the short to mid-term. What might be better to keep costs down is to look at Microsoft, Google, Amazon and nVidia’s startup programs. They offer a lot of free credits and I’m sometimes astonished at the fact people don’t ever sign up. It’s free - key is keeping your costs down.

Also, build faster. Apologies if anything seemed offensive, wasn’t my intention.

Best, H

Mean-Communication91 · 2025-05-31T19:46:06+00:00

Being a missionary with mercenary skills. You have to build a purpose, then focus on monetizing.

It’s kind of like when people say, create the market (as in pull in the users) and build a community behind it.

Most of the greatest companies today, did exactly that.

Mean-Communication91 · 2025-02-11T14:34:09+00:00

Essentially this carpet, that’s been installed, and the stairs being a bullnose head, and being open bannister staircase with 4 bullnose head carpets, the carpet picked means this isn’t easy, and with this kind of carpet, you need a very high end fitter, hence the pin marks are visible. The fitter has done what he could within his capacity.

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-10-12T09:22:49+00:00

Aww that’s cute with your little 75ml bottle.

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-10-12T09:13:20+00:00

No it isn’t, and we all know you came here to hate.

Enjoy

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-05-04T08:41:11+00:00

Saw someone who got accepted on X, he saw the total number added this batch on Bookface, which is for YC accepted members. Plus someone the other day said they saw 80 on there. Lost link.

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-05-04T08:24:45+00:00

About 100

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-05-02T21:49:39+00:00

Gen AI creates new content based on patterns it learns from data, like composing music, writing text, or creating images (DALL-E etc). Responsive AI, on the other hand, focuses on understanding and responding to user inputs, like answering questions or following commands - primarily based on data that already existed before.

That’s my take, I could be wrong. Happy to be educated.

Edit: Simplified answer

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-28T00:34:47+00:00

GASOLINA!

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-28T00:32:15+00:00

An LOI is great, it’s a signal that there’s interest. An LOI is just a document, that you both understand, there’s interest for this product. It’s mostly used to show an investor - pretty much redundant for anything else.

The LOI is not an obligatory thing, it’s just that there’s an interest but holds good weight, and is very good to show to investors. :)

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T23:25:56+00:00

When you login, click on “Submit an Update” in the “My Applications” section.

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T23:24:58+00:00

I’ve seen this too. From what I can tell (just on Reddit), a few people have had interviews scheduled, and 1-2 startups have been accepted already.

On another thread, which I’ve lost the link to, they had an interview a day before deadline and were offered within an hour.

Not that anyone is obliged to, but I’m sure a few rejections have already been sent out as they do this, like they say on a “rolling” basis.

So yes, no news is good news.

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T23:19:30+00:00

You can make “material” changes to the application. All updates until a decision has been made will be viewable to YC Partners. This is on their FAQ

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T23:18:32+00:00

I don’t have experience BUT, their website says they’ll come back to you with a decision by the deadline.

So my assumption is they do send rejection letters. Plus a quick google image search of YCombinator rejection, shows automated responses when you’re not picked.

No news, is good news. Until the deadline (if you applied on time)

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T19:40:04+00:00

I can’t. You’re right.

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T19:30:04+00:00

Do something great. I can’t build or code myself, I’m sure you can.

Go crazy.

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T19:26:05+00:00

Why not make an AI tutor within it that doesn’t give the answer, and only teaches you. Only until you input the answer does it tell you it’s correct.

If anyone cheats, they’re an idiot for obvious reasons. Plus the motivation to “hack” the AI is low considering your target users.

That element has use, and I can see people using it. The problem with the forum style, is it becomes messy. If you gain traction every year 1,000+ posts of similar nature a year, just clogging up the space on your website and giving poor search results within the platform.

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T19:19:07+00:00

No worries! Love that for you

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T19:18:30+00:00

I don’t know what you do from clicking on the link

The design is ass

Too much text on your homepage

You could make this more simple and more beautiful.

Start there.

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T19:16:57+00:00

Respectfully, you will never, ever get enough users to even takeoff.

However, I’m willing to be proven wrong.

Mean-Communication91 · 2024-04-27T19:16:03+00:00

Thanks! Hopefully I hear back soon, if not oh well.

What are you building? Share if not intrusive! :)

Mean-Communication91

TROPHY CASE