My student founder experience (the good and the not so pleasant)

Hello fellow & aspiring founders! 👋

The hottest thing these days is starting a company while in school. I am no stranger to student-run startups; I have come across hundreds of ideas turned startups at UC Berkeley (we are one of them!) However, most of them did not surface beyond the classroom or died when the rubber hit the road. Perhaps you might be asking yourself, "Is starting a company while at school a wise decision?" I've asked myself that question dozens of times, especially during those long, sleepless nights balancing work and my studies. I wanted to share my founder's journey with you to inspire the next generation of student founders while highlighting the trade-offs and sacrifices to consider before jumping right in.

My company, Veriply.io, helps small business owners optimize their cashflows with actionable insights. I co-founded the company in August of 2021 while studying at UC Berkeley. The idea was born out of a startup boot camp run by the Sutardja Center of Entrepreneurship. Without the support of the school, our outstanding advisors, and the faculty, we wouldn't be here today.

The Good:
There is no such thing as a free lunch, except if you are a student founder.

As a student, do not be afraid to ask for help. 9/10 times you will receive it. The amount of resources, funding opportunities, and access to knowledge while in school is mind-boggling! I built a team, recruited talent, and signed our first term sheet with relative ease while a student. Additionally, the vast university ecosystem and the "student tag" give you endless opportunities for customer interviews and key connections in your respective industry.

Even if you are not thinking about starting a company at the current moment, your appetite for entrepreneurship will be satiated while at school.

The Bad:
As a student, you are not full-time.

No matter how much you try to convince yourself that you got a pulse on the day-to-day operations, your attention is pulled in a million directions. When Michael Seibel of YC came to speak in our classroom, he asked about the work-life balance of a student entrepreneur. He responded, "There is none . . . if you are legitimately pursuing a startup, you will make sacrifices that will affect your social, physical, and emotional well-being."

So what's the most you can lose if your startup fails? Time. It might not seem so precious now, but where and when else will you be surrounded by some of the smartest, coolest, and goofiest sponges of knowledge?

I am the lucky exception because my cofounder was full-time while I was finishing my final year. She was an absolute rockstar, and I owe everything to her perseverance.

The Ugly:
Without clear expectations and alignment across the team, your startup is doomed.

We all know the early stage of a startup is all about hacking motivation. Trust me; there were many times I lay in bed, unable to move or think, and was ready to hang the hat. These moments of resilience are defining for a founder. That's where having a supportive and emphatic team is make or break. Strip away the misconceived glory of being an entrepreneur; above all; you are a teammate to your cofounders. Without the ENTIRE team's collective effort, your progress will deteriorate, motivation will plummet, and you will be unable to dig out of the trough of sorrow. So how can you be a supportive teammate while being "part-time"? Communication, Communication, Communication!

1. Be very upfront about your outside commits, and don't bite off more than you can chew.
2. The best contingency plan is to prepare ahead of time. Book your school commitments in the team calendar, prepare for exams a week or so in advance, and separate your workflows.
3. Check in frequently with the rest of your team to access their workload and overall emotional health. There have been times that I sensed a lack of reciprocity on my part; address these feelings before they fester. It's okay to be burned out and need a few days off to recoup, but do not escape into the darkness without notice.

The takeaway here is that a startup can be a soul and time-sucking vampire and an opportunity of a lifetime for a student. I'm a firm believer in going 110%. If you do not think you are ready for it, it's okay. Unless the problem you are trying to solve is nagging away at your core and people are screaming for a solution: patience is a virtue. My final message to aspiring or current student founders: find a badass team, do not neglect your emotional self, and communicate, communicate, communicate.

Thank you for reading! If you are a student founder, check out: www.becomingafounder.com for resources to help you on your journey. 🚀