The Story of Yared and the Elusive Startup Dream

Once upon a time, in the bustling streets of Addis Ababa, there was a young entrepreneur named Yared. He had an idea that could change everything. It wasn't just any idea—it was the kind of idea that could make him the next big name in the tech world. Yared had been working on his project for months. He spent sleepless nights coding, strategizing, and sketching out a business plan that seemed too good to be true.

One day, Yared decided it was time to take his idea to the next level. "It's time to seek investment," he thought. After all, what was the point of all this hard work if he couldn't get the backing he needed to bring it to life?

He picked up his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and dialed the number of a well-known investor. The call went as expected: the investor was intrigued by the idea but wanted to know more. "Tell me, Yared, what's your business model? How are you going to make this work?" the investor asked.

Yared paused. "Well," he stammered, "I've got a great product, and I've been working on it for months. I just need funding to scale it. The market is ready, and all I need is capital to grow."

The investor nodded, but there was a long silence on the other end of the line. "You're missing a few things," the investor finally said. "Where's your team? Your customer acquisition strategy? Your operational plan?" Yared's mind raced. He had thought he was ready, but now, he wasn't so sure.

That was the first lesson Yared learned: Having a great idea wasn't enough. He needed to know the nitty-gritty details that would convince an investor to take the leap. But Yared wasn't discouraged. He was determined to get his project off the ground, no matter what.

Over the next few weeks, Yared met with more investors. Some were interested, but they kept asking the same questions: "What's your exit strategy? How are you going to scale? What's your timeline?" These questions felt like a whirlwind, and each answer seemed to raise more questions than it solved. Yared began to feel like he was missing something—a bigger picture.

One evening, over a cup of coffee with a fellow entrepreneur, Yared voiced his frustration. "Why is it so hard to find the right support? All I'm asking for is investment! I'm doing everything I can, but I feel like I'm hitting a wall every time."

His friend smiled knowingly. "It's not just about finding the right investment. You need more than that. You need someone who can help you build this. Not just fund it."

Yared felt a spark of realization. "Build it... But how?"

His friend leaned in, his voice lowering as if revealing a secret. "You need someone who will come in early, help you build your product, get you the right people, and guide you through the tough decisions. Investors want to see that you've already got your ducks in a row. They don't want to come in and do everything for you."

Yared's mind was spinning. This was it—he wasn't just missing capital; he was missing a framework to help him build the business from scratch. He was trying to climb a mountain without the right gear.

But there was another problem Yared didn't realize he had: the stubbornness that ran deep in his entrepreneurial veins. He was not the kind of person to give up control easily. His dream was his baby, and the idea of handing over a chunk of it to someone else felt like a betrayal.

"Why should I give up any equity?" Yared thought. "It's my idea, after all."

He thought of the other young entrepreneurs he'd met. They had the same mindset: brilliant, hungry, but reluctant to share ownership. They wanted the investment without the strings attached. They didn't realize that success, in the startup world, often came down to collaboration, not control.

But as Yared's journey continued, the road became clearer. It wasn't just about the idea; it was about the people who would help him turn it into a reality. He needed more than just funding. He needed expertise, mentorship, and a system that would guide him through the ups and downs of building a business.

One afternoon, Yared stumbled across a group of entrepreneurs who had found exactly what he was looking for. They had launched a business together, pooled their resources, and shared not only the profits but the risks. Yared realized that this was the missing piece. They didn't just talk about their ideas—they built them, hand-in-hand, with the right guidance and support.

Suddenly, the world of startups didn't feel so lonely anymore.