If a startup has no revenue, no office, and no staff, does it even exist?

A few months ago I got obsessed with the idea of incorporating my company. This is one of many ways I, as a founder, find ways to productively procrastinate – I find something small to obsess over getting absolutely perfect, when the big challenges seemed too scary to tackle.

First, it was the logo - we are currently on our 18th (?) logo version - and then it was incorporating.

I think this particular procrastination obsession [still ongoing by the way] came from trying to fill the void of the startup not feeling ... real.

We have no office, no customers, no revenue, and a wonderful team of volunteers, but no staff [yet]. I thought, if I Officially Register The Company, it will start to feel real. And if the startup feels real, it will help me feel like I'm doing a Real Job.

For weeks, I struggled between an LLC, a nonprofit and a C-corp. I spent hours on calls with my team, lawyers, other founders - and generally felt more confused than before. And the overwhelming feeling that I was going to make the wrong choice didn't help either.

And not even just making the wrong choice, but not knowing whether you made the wrong choice or not. The other incredible thing about being a founder is there is no one evaluating you or your work! Which means - if you make a mistake, you no one will tell you. You'll just fail. I assume the startup will just spontaneously combust.??

Let me tell you a little secret - I was a very good student my entire life. I come from a family of very smart, high achievers. I've had big shoes to fill, and I have filled them pretty well in various ways over the years.

The current shoe I created for myself, though, is much larger than I could have imagined.

I wish I had not been such a good student. I wish I took more risks, and learned to fail. I think children should be allowed to keep dreaming a little bit longer, and be a little less good at answering multiple choice questions. I think this fosters more innovative, creative thinking. Just like languages, these skills are much harder to learn as an adult.

The neural pathways forged in childhood are deep chasms, and it's very hard to avoid falling into them.

I often metaphorically refer to my startup as my baby, and I think the metaphor is very apt. It is a labor of love - but a labor nonetheless. And just like a child, I hope that I am able to guide it to grow up big and strong, and self-reliant. Eventually - maybe even to outlive me.

But the future is uncertain, and entering the climate tech space - me, a first time mom and my 6 month old baby startup - is scary. It's hard not to look out into the overflowing ocean of startups, and wonder whether you are welcome to this party.

There are people who have been working in climate tech from before I was born. Serial entrepreneurs that are starting their 11th startup. There are companies that have raised billions of dollars. Teams made up of ex-Google, ex-Tesla, ex-Facebook rockstars. There are huge, successful players in the space. Surely - they got this?

A "unicorn" is a common term in the business world for a startup valued at over $1 billion and is privately owned.

But a feeling keeps nagging at me - that something is missing. I see a different path forward. And despite all my insecurities - of which there are many - I am stubbornly convinced that am right. And if I am not right - I at least want to prove myself wrong.

I can see the future of my startup, and it is wonderful. Not because we will make x1000 our investments and retire to the Bahamas (though not out of the question I guess) - but because I can see an opportunity for disruption. An opportunity to create a platform that helps people harness the power of their own data for their own benefit. Shifting the way we make decisions, and helping people deal with the absolute mammoth crisis of anxiety, stress and cognitive overwhelm we are buried under.

Now we just need to figure out how to get there, even if it takes very cautious, tiny baby steps, for now.

?? What about you?

Do you have a nagging feeling about some great idea? There's nothing like the thrill of jumping off the Founder Life cliff that makes founders want to push others off the Founder Life cliff. Tell me - what is your secret idea and what would it take for you to make the leap? I'd love to know.