My Venture Diary — The Price of Building a Dream

[EP8] Understanding what it truly takes to build a venture.

It’s probably because of my training in economics that I view almost every choice in life as a trade. The concept of opportunity cost — the value of the best alternative forgone when making a decision — perfectly explains this. Whether you’re buying your favorite latte instead of drinking the free one at the office, or choosing to spend time with your emotional support cat over a day trip with your college classmates, there’s always a cost.

The way everyone sees and evaluates cost can vary greatly, but one universal truth remains: we can’t have it all. As my one-month journey in Thailand comes to an end, I’ve been reflecting on the trade-offs and hidden costs of building a business. This has become a critical task for me to address.

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The Hidden Costs of Starting a Venture

The objective I set for this trip was to find my team and lock in on one project to start with. I’m glad to say I’ve successfully achieved both! While it’s thrilling to have my anchor set, harsh realities are quickly setting in: How do I pay my team? What’s the equity structure? How do I allocate shares, ownership, and vesting for myself and the investor?