🧭 Should You Start Your Own Startup?

No fluff. Just a real talk from someone who recently did.

Hey friends👋,

Two months ago, I left the comfort of full-time work to build something of my own: AceInterviewAI — an AI-powered mock interview coach that now includes a new Live Coding, Face-Face mode. You can try it free.

The journey so far? A mix of excitement, chaos, and clarity.

As a software architect with 12+ years in backend, frontend, CI/CD, and full-stack roles across startups, I thought I’d seen it all. But building your own product from scratch is a different game.

Here are some real lessons you won’t find in typical startup advice:

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🔍 What I’ve Learned the Hard Way:

• Don't build until someone is ready to pay.
  I wasted weeks building features no one asked for. The real game-changer? Asking potential users: "Would you pay for this?"

• UX isn't "nice-to-have" — it's everything.
  People drop off fast if they don't get what your product does in 5 seconds. We rebuilt our homepage 3 times based on this.

• Cold outreach works (if it's personal).
  One of our most probable payable clients lol 😂, came from a simple LinkedIn DM and Loom video. No ads. Just human connection.

• Get feedback fast.
  I didn’t wait for “perfect.” I shipped, learned, and improved.

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✅ The “Should I Start?” Checklist (Easy Framework)

Before quitting your job or going all-in, ask yourself:

1. Would I still build this if no one noticed for 6 months?
   If your answer is “yes,” you're probably ready.

2. Can I name 1 person who’ll pay for it next month?
   If not, keep validating the idea before building.

3. Do I have a small money cushion or freelance fallback?
   You don’t need VC money. Just a plan to survive.

4. Do I enjoy doing everything myself (tech, sales, emails, design)?
   Because at the start, you are the whole team.

5. Do I have 2-3 people I can call when stuck?
   Having a support circle makes a massive difference.

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📚 Some Game-Changing Books I Recommend:

• “The Minimalist Entrepreneur” – Sahil Lavingia
  → How to build a small, profitable startup without funding.

• “The Mom Test” – Rob Fitzpatrick
  → Learn how to ask better questions that don’t lead to fake validation.

• “Build for Tomorrow” – Jason Feifer
  → Understand how to adapt quickly to change — something every founder needs.

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💡 So… Should You Start?

If you’re someone who:

• Loves solving real problems,

• Can wear multiple hats,

• Doesn’t mind uncertainty for a few months,

Then yes — start small, start smart, and most importantly, start now.

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👇 Try What I Built

🎯 AceInterviewAI — Your personalized AI Interview Coach.
Try our new Live Coding mock mode now , 🎥 Face-to-Face mock interview mode goes live this weekend.
Real interview vibes. Pocket-money price. Stay tuned!
➡️ Test it free at aceinterviewai.com

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💬 Let’s Chat!

Got questions about startups, product building, or switching from dev to founder?
Just reply to this email — I’ll reply personally.

If you liked this, follow me on Youtube, LinkedIn and X for weekly insights on tech, product building, and real founder stories.

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

– Jeni Fer
Software Architect | Founder @ AceInterviewAI

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