Why Start a Startup?

A question VCs and friends often ask is: "why do you want to start your own startup?"

A few answers come to mind.

First, I’m tired of working for other people. Over time I’ve realized that many people in leadership positions are just as confused as everyone else. That’s not necessarily a criticism - the world is complicated, and most people are figuring it out as they go. But once you see that clearly, a natural question follows: if people are often just as clueless, why not try to figure things out myself instead of following someone else’s confusion?

Second, I want the experience for myself. One of the biggest lessons I took away from Vipassana meditation comes from Goenka’s explanation of the three levels of knowledge. First, you hear about something. Second, you study it and think about it. But the third level - the most important one - is direct experience.

He uses a simple metaphor: it’s like going to a restaurant. Hearing about the food is like hearing about an idea. Reading the menu is studying it. But only when you actually order the dish and taste it yourself do you truly know what it’s like.

Startups feel like that to me. I’ve read the stories. I’ve heard the advice. I’ve watched other people go through the journey. But at some point, the only way to really understand it is to try it myself. Knowledge that isn’t grounded in personal experience always feels incomplete.

Finally, I want more leverage to help people. For a long time I felt slightly embarrassed admitting this. Saying you want “influence” can sound ego-driven. But over time I’ve become more certain this is actually what brings me the most joy. I want to help people and make the world a little better. I want to help people live more peaceful lives.

A line from GEM’s concert stayed with me: “见过光，就要把光反射出去.” (Once you’ve seen the light, you should reflect it outward.)

If I can build something meaningful, I want to become a bigger mirror, reflecting more light outward into the world. A startup, at least in my mind, is one way to scale that impulse.

It’s a way to taste the food yourself - and hopefully share it with as many others as possible too.