When I began my engineering studies in 2013, I envisioned a future in the pharmaceutical industry – leading research teams, publishing papers, and contributing to life-saving drug development. That was my dream.
Entrepreneurship? It never crossed my mind. My father was an engineer, always building and repairing cars—something I found painfully boring as a child. And yet, here I am today, building autonomous vehicles. It’s ironic. My expertise is in chemical engineering, focusing on industrialization and automation, not automotive engineering.
After earning my master’s degree with distinction, I planned to pursue a PhD, especially after completing my thesis at a major pharmaceutical company. But when my applications were rejected, I felt lost. I accepted a research position at my alma mater, working on exciting projects, yet unsure about my career path.
Then, I discovered a fascinating research initiative—autonomous driving. My husband and his colleague, both alumni from the same school, were achieving groundbreaking results. And that’s when I thought: What if I built my own venture? Instead of developing drugs, what if I developed autonomous vehicles?
It seemed absurd—what business did a chemical engineer have in this space? And yet, something in me said, go for it. Call it intuition.
Taking the Leap
The idea was exhilarating but terrifying. I had no experience securing funding, no deep technical expertise in autonomous driving, and no business background. It felt impossible. But I thrive on challenges. I push boundaries. I don’t give up. And I can communicate complex technologies in a way that makes sense to people. That became my greatest asset.
With nothing but a rudimentary PowerPoint and a few lines of code, I convinced our first investor and landed our first major customer. The presentation was terrible, but the vision was clear. And that’s what mattered.
The Reality of Being a Founder
The title of co-founder or CEO is easy to claim—just put it on your LinkedIn profile. But truly being a founder is a different challenge. There’s no playbook. Every day brings new obstacles. Every decision carries the weight of potential failure or success. You are in a constant state of learning and adaptation.
As a founder, you go beyond predefined roles. One day, you’re the CEO; the next, you’re the product engineer, the janitor, or the CFO. You become a Swiss Army knife, taking on whatever is needed to move forward.
Does it take courage to start a company? Absolutely. You step into uncertainty, invest your own money, and sacrifice financial security. But what takes even more courage is staying the course. As your company grows, you become responsible for a team that believes in your vision. They trust you. You owe it to them to stay resilient—to chase investors, push through sleepless nights, and persist when everything seems against you.
Is It Worth It?
That’s a question no one can truly answer at the beginning. Even as you build your company, you may wonder if it will all be worth it. Perhaps once the company is fully established, the answer becomes clearer. But even then, you’ll likely still be striving for growth.
The worth of entrepreneurship depends on what drives you. Do you want to be your own boss? Create value for society? Achieve financial success? Everyone has their own motivation. For me, no academic degree could have provided the experiences I’ve gained through building my company. I have celebrated incredible successes and endured some of the hardest challenges a company can face.
I have worked harder than I ever thought possible. Perhaps I’ve lost a bit of my youth, but I’ve gained something far more valuable—independence, the ability to shape my own career, and the hope that I am setting an example for my two little boys. I want them to see what women can achieve, no matter the obstacles.
If you dream of starting your own tech company, know this: it won’t be easy. But if you embrace challenges, stay resilient, and never stop learning, it will be one of the most rewarding journeys of your life.
