Starting a Startup
I’ve never wanted an ordinary life.
It’s why I did a PhD at 24 instead of entering the workforce like all of my friends. It had a negative affect on my careers prospects, LMAO (surprise).
My topic was on the history of Western Philosophy and why we became rational subjects and how to break out of the Cartesian chains of the mind / body split that positioned women as illogical, emotional and incapable of rational thought. Fuck that for a joke, am I right? But that’s our history, here in Australia, and sadly, it still persists but I’m not here to deconstruct the inequities of modern life, been there, done that.
It was at Uni, in the Systems Gardens, that I first remember dreaming of becoming a startup founder, stoned, ferociously free and lying on the grass with my best mate, Nick. We envisioned a life where we created something, a lab, that made some kind of difference. We were dreamers, I still am.
So here I am at the precipe of 40. I work full-time, I have a huge mortgage that feels oppressive at the best of times, but I’m secure in the thought of not becoming one of the increasingly homeless women aged 55 and above. I’m also not straight and unlikely to become divorced because I’m not married, so the odds are in my favour.
I’ve always been impulsive and at the same time wanted to change the world for the better, I’ve seen the worst, and it’s shit.
So when a friend, suggested a business idea between wines at her birthday on a beach weekend away, I said, let’s do it.
Enter, Press Play, a pre-accelerator for exploring our start-up idea, whether there is a market for it, how to find our audience and how to scale it up.
The first questions I had to ask myself were:
Why this?
I’ve always loved using new tech, we had the first Apple computer, the Nintendo, the Internet, the iPod and the iPhone. The VR headset seems like the next technological revolution.
Why me?
I’ve successfully launched and run, W0m3nWh0HackM3lb0urn3 which was a space for women to learn ethical hacking. I secured sponsorship from Microsoft to supply us with dinner and drinks, and free use of a space in TypeHuman’s office.
I also have a Business Degree with a major in data analytics, as well as working as a cyber security consultant, so I bring a broad skill set to the table. I can talk to functional and non-functional business requirements, explain highly technical concepts to developers, research like only a PhD can and whip up a web site.
Also, why the hell not me? I read a lot of books on the bias in tech, and how the world is largely designed for men, because they’re the ones designing everything, from the size of your phone, to your car seat, to the height of cupboards in your house, all designed for the standard man.
The only way to change this, is to jump into the fray and start creating, building, shaping the world, in my image. Here I stand, all 5’3 of me.
Why now?
Mental health has become a huge conversation piece in Australia. There are not enough psychologists to meet the demand and many people are waiting 3-6 months to see one.
Our statup idea is a unique opportunity to create something that many people really need and make it accessible to them, wherever they are, however they want to present.
Watch this space.