The Startup Journey: From a Small Stream to a Big River

Starting a startup is like the beginning of a small stream. At first, it's full of energy and new ideas, just like water bubbling up from the ground. This is the time when creativity is at its highest. People in the startup are all working together, excited to bring something new into the world. But like a stream, a startup has to move and grow.

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The Beginning: Full of Ideas

In the beginning, a startup is all about trying new things and making something special. It's a time when there's not much money or many people to help, but there's a lot of passion. The team has to work hard, facing challenges like making their product perfect and finding people who want to buy it.

I remember when I started to think about Xeelo or Integray. In the beginning, there was an idea of how the product could help customers, and the only important thing was the product itself, along with adding new features. This was a time of excitement.

Growing Bigger: Learning to Flow

As the startup grows, it's like the stream flowing into a bigger river. Now, the team gets bigger, and the startup might start selling in new places or making more things. But growing is tricky. The team has to learn to work in new ways and keep the startup's spirit alive while also making sure everything runs smoothly. They have to find a balance between keeping the good parts of being small and the needs of being bigger.

Last year, we began to grow. We expanded the team with elements we were missing or that were not as important to us before, such as UX/UI design, a technical writing team, and marketing support. The role of quality assurance became a part of our journey.

Getting Stronger: Thinking about Money and How to Last

When the startup becomes like a big river, it's strong but faces new challenges. Now, it's very important to think about money and being efficient. The startup has to make sure it can keep going for a long time, facing competition and changes in the market. This means being smart about spending money, making good decisions, and always looking for ways to do things better.

This is our current stage. We have to aim for effectiveness and become financially independent through the licenses. We have to account for every invested cent and focus on the customer even more than before. I would say this is the most critical part of our journey, and it requires a lot of new skills we have to adopt.

Leading the Way: The Role of Good Leaders

Throughout this journey, good leadership is crucial. Leaders have to guide the startup from being a small stream to a big river. They need to be good at making decisions, helping everyone work together, and changing how things are done when needed. This isn't easy. It means leaders have to listen, learn, and be ready to change their plans to help the startup grow and succeed.

I also realized that the need for good leaders is higher than ever. Building a strong foundation of leaders who can form and lead the team is inevitable. A simple management structure is put in place, and we focus on effective delivery and the economics of our organization. Now is the time to start changing things for the future and to be even more aligned with our vision and mission.

The Never-Ending Journey

Just like a river that keeps flowing, a startup's journey never really stops. Each part of the journey has its own challenges, from starting with a lot of energy, growing bigger and stronger, to becoming smart about money and lasting a long time. It's a journey of learning and changing, full of ups and downs. But it's also very rewarding for everyone who makes the journey together.

Yes, the usual journey is full of ups and downs, and Xeelo and Integray are no exception. We have to take the good from the "ups" and bring ideas on how to change from the "downs." As one of our senior leads says:

Nothing is permanent but change.

My main focus is now on the team. I've realized that the product is only as good as the team working on it.

Conclusion

Starting and growing a startup is a big adventure. It's about keeping the energy and creativity alive while also getting stronger and smarter about how to last. With good leadership and a team that's ready to learn and change, a startup can make this amazing journey successfully. My role has evolved from application architect and designer to that of a manager. Currently, the team consists of twenty-two highly motivated professionals, with a leadership team of six. This new role was far from my comfort zone, but now I have started to enjoy it, being less technical and more people-oriented.