Founder stories

Why Being a Control Freak Is Killing Your Startup

A raw look at what happens when you try to do everything yourself as a founder — the constant juggle between control, burnout, and growth. It’s about reaching that point where you realise that scaling yourself is just as important as scaling the business.

Oct 22, 2025

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13 min read

Vasily Alekseenko

Founder stories

The Scammer Who Tried to Infiltrate Our Community

A fake “investor” tried to infiltrate our community after the embassy event, approaching multiple founders with a crypto kickback scam. I’m sharing this story to raise awareness — because while scammers are getting smarter, founders who talk to each other are even stronger.

Oct 15, 2025

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9 min read

Vasily Alekseenko

Founder stories

Why Shiny Things Are a Founder’s Worst Enemy

Staying focused as a founder is one of the hardest — and most important — skills to build. This post shares what I’m still learning about prioritising what really matters, avoiding shiny distractions, and saying no (even when it’s uncomfortable).

Sep 24, 2025

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21 min read

Vasily Alekseenko

Founder stories

You’re Not Supposed to Know Everything

Being a founder doesn’t mean knowing everything — it means learning fast and asking for help when you need it. This post is a reminder that you’re not behind, you’re just building something new (and that’s hard enough already).

Sep 17, 2025

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19 min read

Vasily Alekseenko

Founder stories

Why Building a Business in the UK Feels Like a Punishment

Many founders in the UK feel like the system is designed to hold them back — from unfair VAT rules to the lack of any safety net when starting out. This post breaks down what’s broken, what other countries are doing better, and what practical steps founders can take right now.

Sep 3, 2025

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19 min read

Vasily Alekseenko

Scaling

If You Need Balance, Don’t Found a Startup

Most founders work 7 days a week—not because they’re chasing hustle culture, but because building something real takes relentless focus. Balance comes later (if ever); in the early stage, your startup is your life.

Jul 23, 2025

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22 min read

Vasily Alekseenko

Founder stories

Sam Altman's Secret Playbook: What Every Founder Misses

Most founders chase shiny trends, but Sam Altman’s real playbook is all about nailing the boring, unsexy basics—like building a great product, hiring right, and obsessing over users. His advice isn’t new, just rarely followed—and that’s exactly why most startups fail.

Jun 18, 2025

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20 min read

Vasily Alekseenko

Founder stories

The Story You Tell Wins: What Founders Can Learn from the Tesla Myth

Most people think Elon Musk founded Tesla — but the real story is more complicated. This blog breaks down how media perception rewrote startup history, and what every founder needs to do to avoid getting erased.

May 14, 2025

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15 min read

Vasily Alekseenko

Founder stories

He Lost His Company. Became an Employee. Then Made Millions.

He lost his company, got pushed out by his co-founder, became an employee in his own business — and still went on to make millions. One of the most insane founder comeback stories we’ve heard.

Apr 30, 2025

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14 min read

Vasily Alekseenko

Founder stories

Friday’s on. But here’s the truth.

With key sponsors pulling out last minute, we had two choices: scale back or go all in — and we chose to bet on the community that made this event what it is.

Apr 24, 2025

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13 min read

Vasily Alekseenko

Behind the scenes