The complete story of how I went from borrowing money from friends and family to closing VC rounds across 7 ventures
My journey began at 15, winning a school startup competition and making my first $2,000. That spark led me to Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with one dream: to become a builder. The next seven years taught me what it truly takes to build something real.
I spent 10 days in Shanghai raising money to launch my first business - a travel product platform. The development took months, but I learned that having an idea and building a sustainable business are completely different challenges. I pivoted to a content agency, but lost clients due to quality issues. I ran an event agency that bled money. I trusted a large marketing firm that burned my cash with zero results. I had conflicts with my co-founder, ending another venture overnight.
My smart farm startup won competitions but failed to secure permits. My team quit from exhaustion, leaving me alone to launch a 'cloud farming' service that failed to monetize despite initial traction.
My final venture, a BioAI startup, seemed promising. We raised over $300,000 from angels and VCs, secured office space at Hong Kong Science Park, and hit multiple milestones. But market shifts, dense patent landscapes, and hiring mistakes eventually burned through all our capital. The company that once attracted investors closed its doors. Those who sought my advice when I was succeeding disappeared when I failed.
Over 7 years, I went through every stage of startup funding. Each step taught me something money can't buy:
Not what you think they need, not what sounds impressive, but what they will actually pay for. Product-market fit isn't optional—it's survival.
Promises, handshakes, and verbal agreements mean nothing in business. Trust the process, verify everything in writing.
Every 'easy' path leads to a dead end. Real value requires real work, real time, and real commitment.
After experiencing both failures and successes, I realized the world's startup ecosystems are incredibly diverse. Each region offers unique opportunities, cultural approaches, and funding landscapes. Silicon Valley isn't the only game in town anymore.
In the AI era, I want to explore different startup ecosystems globally, build communities with freelancers and nomads from various regions, and try different approaches to entrepreneurship. My goal is to connect with skilled individuals, open their eyes to new possibilities, and provide educational content to help them grow as entrepreneurs.
I'm drawing this 'map' to help entrepreneurs like me learn faster and suffer less. Every insight, every strategy, every lesson I share comes from real experience - the failures, the victories, and everything in between.
The Vibe was built on these hard-earned lessons. This isn't just about sharing knowledge. It's about building a global community of entrepreneurs who support each other's growth while exploring the world's most innovative ecosystems.