The road to entrepreneurship- "Courageous or crazy? 1 year into the journey"
Pavandeep Rai Ph.D
CEO and Founder @ Kuma Health | Digital Health | Autoimmune Disease | Venture Backed
Hi! My name is Pavandeep, a PhD, turned Consultant turned entrepreneur, looking t I am looking to make a difference in the world of healthcare by harnessing the newest innovations and translating them for individuals who will benefit most. Join me as I chart my journey into the world of building my company, Kuma Health. We are part of ZINC, a mission driven venture builder that brings together 70 individuals from diverse backgrounds to innovate and build companies in areas of high global need.
This week marks a year since I left the comfort of a corporate job and jumped head first into the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. Many people told me it takes courage, but most days, it feels more like delusion—and in my more cynical moments, sheer craziness! Yet, here I am a year later, not only with a growing business but with a deeper understanding of myself and some hard-earned lessons. I’m sharing these reflections in case they resonate with anyone else considering the leap.
Financial Sacrifice
Joining Zinc with a small stipend was an ideal way to test the waters of founding a venture. As a first-time founder with no team and a blank slate, I didn’t know if I’d even meet a co-founder or enjoy venture building. The stipend was a starting point, but realistically, it barely covered a fraction of my family’s living expenses. Without the support of family and savings, I couldn't have managed. After receiving funding, I quickly learned that even with investment, founders don’t escape financial strain; operational overheads like taxes, salaries, and contributions add up fast. For us, salaries became the biggest drain within the first six months.
Living with Uncertainty
Uncertainty has been a constant companion. Some things can be controlled or tested, like finding the right co-founder or defining the business model. But eventually, there’s a point where you simply have to take the leap and trust your intuition. The biggest challenge, though, has been securing ongoing funding. Despite frugality, we found ourselves on shaky financial footing within months. The reality of spending time—sometimes entire months—focused on appeasing investors, updating roadmaps, and creating forecasts underscored the importance of having an investor who understands our timeline and industry. This experience has taught me to watch out for red flags early and prioritize partnerships that bring a genuine understanding of our journey.
Constantly Being "On"
If corporate life felt busy, startup life is like planning a wedding while working a new job! The mental demand is relentless—problem-solving, learning new skills, networking, building relationships, troubleshooting, and making key decisions are all part of the daily grind. Every day feels like a full mental workout. The downside? Sacrifices are inevitable. For me, it’s been family time. Realizing this is something I don’t want to lose, I’m now focusing on setting boundaries that allow me to progress in business while preserving moments with loved ones.
Learning on the Go
One of the biggest shifts has been adopting a "do-it-yourself" mindset. I’ve made it a point to handle each task at least once before delegating it. This hands-on approach has built a fundamental change in my mindset—knowing that no matter the outcome, this experience will have a lifelong impact on my resilience and adaptability.
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One year in, and I still feel like I’m just getting started. Every challenge brings growth, and every lesson adds value—not just to the business but to me as a founder. Here’s to another year of learning, adapting, and building something meaningful.
?#EntrepreneurJourney, #StartupLife, #FounderReflections, #StartupLessons, #LifeAsAnEntrepreneur, #BusinessGrowth, #PersonalGrowth, #BuildingABusiness, #FounderChallenges, , #LearningOnTheGo, #Resilience, #Adaptability, #BuildingBoundaries, #ZincAccelerator, #BusinessMindset
?Thanks for reading this week! If you have any thoughts or questions, please get in touch!
As ever, at Kuma Health , we are always seeking support and advise to help grow the business. If you have skills in #marketing #businessdevelopment #researchpilots #grantwriting #ScientificIP. Please reach out! I would love to speak with you!
As ever, the lovely members of my cohort have been hard at work and are documenting there own experiences. You can access their blogs and newsletters below:
Thanks to:
Registered Midwife l Women’s Health Advocate l NuFlo Co-Founder I Feminist l Womanhood and Gender Equality l Bioethics in Child- and Motherhood l Long-Distance Runner
2 周Congratulations on completing you first year with Kuma! Thank you so much for sharing the good experiences as well as the challenges you went through during this last year. Pearly Joubert and I are in the early stage of building Nuflo, a startup that aims to improve womens health.
You do a great job of showing the reality of what it's like to be a founder. It's tough work - that's for sure! Hopefully, you're finding it motivating too, though :D
Co-Founder @Ultra BiOmics | Specialist Clinician in Obesity & Metabolic Disease | Hintsa Performance Coach
3 周Great to see so many familiar faces ??
Advancing Emerging Healthcare Technology & Future Interfaces
3 周Congratulations on your first year anniversary with Kuma ?? It was wonderful to play a small role in your entrepreneurial journey. No doubt you will inspire many other female founders in the making! ????