Why I’m Transitioning from a ‘Startup Bro’ to Solopreneurship and Indie Hacking

·5 min read

Why I’m Transitioning from a ‘Startup Bro’ to Solopreneurship and Indie Hacking

I used to think success meant raising VC money, scaling fast, and grinding 24/7. I chased the ‘startup bro’ dream, armed with pitch decks, endless meetings, and visions of unicorn status. But somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t building the life I wanted—I was building stress.

The Turning Point

Running my first startup, Languagehood, taught me a lot about entrepreneurship. We graduated a couple hundred students without spending a dime on marketing and made a couple thousand bucks. On paper, it looked like a success. But behind the scenes, I found myself bogged down in tasks I didn’t enjoy—managing teams, dealing with operations, and constantly thinking about ‘scaling.’

I realized something crucial: I loved building, not managing. The freedom I craved wasn’t in becoming the next big startup; it was in having full control over what I created and how I worked.

What Solopreneurship and Indie Hacking Mean to Me

For me, solopreneurship means freedom. Freedom to build what I want, work on my own terms, and focus on solving real problems without the pressure of hyper-growth.

Indie hacking is about creating small, impactful products that bring value, not just chasing the next funding round. It’s about sustainability over hype, and building a life around what I love doing.

What I’m Building Now

I’ve fully embraced the indie hacker mindset, and here’s what I’m working on:

  • Bulkingo: A simple app to track my fitness journey and progressive overloads. No more spreadsheets.
  • Codecabulary: Helping beginners understand coding terminology with plain, simple explanations.
  • Repeatica: An AI-first app to solve inefficiencies in note-taking and learning retention.

Each of these projects solves a problem I personally face. I’m the first user of everything I build, and that’s what keeps me motivated.

Lessons Learned

  1. Bigger isn’t always better. You don’t need to scale to find success.
  2. Freedom > Funding. Autonomy in your work is more valuable than any investment.
  3. Build for yourself first. If it solves your problem, chances are it’ll help others too.

The Road Ahead

My goal now is to launch multiple apps, document my journey, and create sustainable income streams. I’m sharing everything—the successes, the failures, and the lessons in between.

If you’re stuck in the startup grind and wondering if there’s another way, there is. Indie hacking might just be the freedom you’re looking for.

Follow my journey on X as I build in public and share the ups and downs of solopreneurship. Let’s create, not just scale.