YC
Urska Srsen Speaks at Y Combinator Female Founder Conference 2016
@ Y Combinator
06/01/16
Takeaways
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
I admire Zaha Hadid, an Iraqi-born architect, who was a formidable force in design and architecture. Her legacy inspires women who are passionate and unafraid to take on ambitious projects.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
I co-founded Bellabeat, a company focused on designing beautiful and user-friendly technology for tracking women's health.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
I was 23 when I became a founder, transitioning from studying sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki to the tech industry, which felt unconventional for someone with my background.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Despite my art background, I followed my passion into the startup world, even though I initially felt unqualified and struggled with self-doubt.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
My fiancé and co-founder, Sandra, encouraged me to drop my studies and move to Zagreb, Croatia, where we began working on various projects, learning a lot despite many failures.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Our first product at Bellabeat was an app and device that allowed expectant mothers to listen to their baby's heartbeat, which resonated emotionally with users and highlighted the need for technology designed for women.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Three years later, Bellabeat has grown to a team of over 60 people with offices in multiple countries and has shipped 350,000 hardware units, achieving profitability.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Starting a company in Europe presents challenges, such as a fragmented market and a lack of nurturing environments for early-stage startups compared to Silicon Valley.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Europe lacks not only the concentration of investment but also the knowledge and experience that Silicon Valley investors have, which is crucial for startup success. Before coming to the United States, I never thought it was possible to receive an investment larger than what my family could provide, and billion-dollar exits felt like something out of a movie.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
European founders are aware of the challenges they face and many want to move to Silicon Valley, but relocating is not as simple as packing your bags due to emotional and legal burdens.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Getting accepted into Y Combinator's winter 2014 batch provided us with a crucial base to start our journey in the U.S.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Feeling out of place in Silicon Valley initially made me feel like I didn't belong, but that underdog mentality helped shape who we are today.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Building a startup isn't about being the smartest; it's about observing and recognizing changes quickly and adapting to them.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Having the support of the Y Combinator community is invaluable, as it connects you with other founders willing to collaborate and help each other out.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Commitment as a founder means prioritizing your team's and company's interests over your own comfort, which can involve making tough decisions and sacrifices.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
In a rapidly growing startup, it's normal to experience team changes, including people quitting, as not everyone is suited for the intense environment.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
When building hardware, the most challenging part is not just creating it but also shipping it, which often requires being on-site at the factory.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
The vision of your startup acts as a glue that holds everything together, helping to navigate challenges and maintain focus on your goals.
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Urska Srsen
06/01/16
@ Y Combinator
Our newest product, the Leaf, is designed as a piece of jewelry that helps women track their activity, sleep, menstrual cycle, and manage stress through breathing exercises.