WaveScan's 6th Birthday Celebration

As we celebrate WaveScan's 6th birthday today, here are a few things I've learned over the years the hard way:

(1) Building a deep-tech company is a marathon, so make healthy decisions. Refrain from over-compromising food, sleep, or exercise to achieve short-term goals (Remember, it's all about Grit, Perseverance, and Passion)!

(2) Building a great product and company takes time, and it can only happen with a team that chooses to stay with you - through ups and downs. So stay loyal to your team and treat them as 'your own.'

(3) Successful fundraising and building a self-sustainable company are very different. One needs to stay focused on building a company independent of external cash injections (crossing the uncertain phase of death by running out of funds) through loyal customers who give you enough ARR to break even.

(4) As a Founder, you're the barrier keeping predators away from your company. Over the years, we've encountered many individuals whose short-term goals (and greed) could have harmed us! Making hard decisions to safeguard your startup (child) is part of being a founder (parent).

(5) While our deep-tech ecosystem is still nascent, most dreams being marketed are in the trial stages! Until you have learned to work through the noise and see the reality behind motherhood statements, as a Founder, you won't be able to make the best decisions to keep your startup 'healthy.'

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(6) Do not take NOs personally! You'll hear multiple NOs from prospective investors, clients, and sometimes high-caliber team members. While it's easy to associate those NOs with yourself, people are simply making the best decisions for themselves based on your startup's condition at that moment!

(7) While entrepreneurship has been hyped as some divine 'God-chosen' path, it is just another job. So, choose wisely, perform 100%, and be ready to wear multiple hats. As a Founder, you're nobody, and you're everybody. The best pride for a Founder (parent) is to see your startup (child) thrive!

(8) Keep personal liabilities minimum—If you start a company (with no plan B), your startup becomes your everything! As a founder, you will be a PG for bank loans, project financing, etc. So, if you want to buy properties or cars on loan (like your MNC buds), you're reducing your risk appetite to feed your startup.

(9) There are days in a startup life when you are on all high. And within hours, you feel like shit. That's the randomness of an early-stage startup. To best navigate through such a roller coaster of emotions and keep a sharp focus on goals, have faith that things will take their best natural outcome in time. Or you'll go crazy!

(10) The ultimate reality is that nothing can make or break your startup if it is meant to be. Destiny has a big hand in how things turn out - so do your best and LET IT GO!

As we gear up to scale WaveScan, we'd like to thank everyone for their support throughout this journey.