We learned that many great ideas often sound ridiculous at first, and that solving a personal problem can lead to a successful business.

In the early days, we struggled to raise money, which taught us to focus on solving real problems and to build an efficient, profitable business from day one.

Instead of interviewing customers to identify their problems, we had to build a product based on our assumptions and then iterate based on their feedback, which was often critical.

We didn't even attempt to talk to investors because we had no product or clear idea of what our product should be.

We initially started a company based on a bad idea, trying to create a wiki for stock research, but it never took off, which is common in consumer businesses where success can feel random.

We realized that we weren't alone in our struggles; other startups faced similar challenges, and persistence was key to success.

First-time founders often make the mistake of solving problems they don't care about, which can lead to a loss of motivation and ultimately failure.

Founders often have no idea where their first users will come from, which is a critical oversight when choosing a problem to solve.

In our first year, we faced significant challenges, including a tough go-to-market transition and hiring the wrong team for our stage of growth.