I've always been curious about how a building a business really works, especially as a software developer where I've generally been a step removed from it.
There's something satisfying about taking an idea from concept to reality and watching it make an impact. To be able to do this myself one day, I needed to develop a good grasp on business fundamentals - especially if I'm doing it on my own.
So when a friend set out to launch a startup focused on a new CI (continuous integration) tool called Ruken, I wanted to help where I could, to learn what I can.
Ruken was envisioned as a decentralized build tool that seamlessly paired available computing power with build jobs - aiming to make CI as effortless as opening a new browser tab.
The ultimate goal was to run executables remotely in complete isolation with full encryption. In other words, while others provided the compute power, the details of each job stayed hidden from that user, and their device would be safe to run it. We believed this was possible by integrating standard browser sandboxing with FHE (Fully Homomorphic Encryption).
Even though it never fully launched, what I learnt along the way was invaluable. Today, you can still check out this Python CI tool in the browser that I built to capture the spirit of what Ruken was all about.
One of the highlights of our startup journey was our recognition by Focal, a popular UK-based hub for early-stage fundraising. In 2021, amid hundreds of applicants, our project was named one of Focal's 15 finalists. You can watch our pitch here.
Here's what I learned along the way:
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Going from idea to business is very doable
- Moving from programming an idea in your bedroom to establishing a business feels much more achievable after you've experienced the process.
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FHE is a vastly underrated technology
- The ability to compute without accessing the actual data has enormous potential. Beyond Ruken's applications, this could allow insights into medical data without compromising patient confidentiality, opening incredible possibilities for medical research.
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Don't conceal an idea for too long
- If you don't test your idea, you'll never know if it works. You can only plan ahead so far with accuracy. Environments, users, and even your own perspective change, so even if your predictions are accurate one day, you must be ready to adapt your product. Embracing imperfection, not fearing feedback, and parsing that feedback into meaningful changes are invaluable skills in all aspects of life, not just entrepreneurship.
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Avoid complexity in the short term
- It's great to have an ambitious long-term vision to keep you motivated, but each step towards that vision should be simple and attainable. You want to provide value, even minimal, as soon as possible. Profitability, scalability, and marketability can follow.
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Competitors are normal; pride in your product is key
- If you listen to your users and quickly act on their feedback, those users will stick with your product. It's hard to compete with a solution that's tailor-made for its audience. Scaling this is challenging, but if you've reached that stage, you're likely succeeding, and competitors become less of a threat.