Building a Startup-But Scared to Start?

With this week being Halloween, I hope you are all enjoying some of the fall festivities: Reeses in pumpkin shapes, leaves falling, and jack-o-lantern themed everything.

Love this time of trick or treat, but a few of my top startup scares, from lived experience:

• Accidently sending the wrong email to a very important person (which is why I always recommend now to have a one minute recall on emails…)

• Autocorrect killing a Linkedin post and you not seeing it for two hours

• Google store taking your app down after getting it approved the week of a press release going live

Oh the list could go on!

But let us also talk about some other fears/anxieties in this Question of the Day.

Starting out is a mix of excitement, nerves, fear, and that oh-my-goodness what am I doing. All of which are normal.

Just for context, when I started my first venture, I had about 3 months left on a UK student visa, a cofounder from another university with a good idea, a lot of ambition, and just as many bundles of nerves to do it.

Sometimes starting a venture feels like jumping head first, whereas other times it is something that you can step into, more like a crescendo. Honestly, I am not sure there is a right or wrong way, or if anyone truly feels 100% ready.

Either way, I would recommend a few suggestions from a mindset piece (and I will be sure to circle back from a practical/checklist piece some things I would recommend in a subsequent newsletter):

Do it One Step at a Time.

If you are like me and want to see ‘the plan’, before you have even started, then I encourage you to wind it on back. They say the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. And, there is nothing more true in the world of startups.

First, just decide you are going to start.

Now, starting does not need to mean you have a 10 page business plan with 18 month financial forecasts in place... Deciding to start just means you are going to make this venture something you are going to dedicate time and energy into. This is going to be a priority for you (even if it is to trial for X period of time)!

Embrace this fun new beginning, and start with something as simple as honing in on the problem you want to solve and what your goal is for your future business. (Then we can start actioning this with some practical business frameworks...)

Get Your Support Ecosystem.

Startups take a village.

I think one of the hardest things to do is go at it alone. And, when the winter nights are dark and cold, and things go awry, you will want someone to lean on.

Now, begin to actively build your network: plug into your own university or alumni hubs, sign up for free events and programmes at your university, or even just share with close supportive friends and family that you are trying this new chapter of your entrepreneurial journey.

If you do not have a cofounder, join an online coworking group or find a coworking place at your school or city (now there are even startup cafes!) just to see some familiar faces also on this rollercoaster. Or get a mentor, online or in person, or business advisor who you can meet with regularly to hold you accountable.

Embrace Imperfection (and All That Comes with It)

If you are a recovering perfectionist (cough, me, been there), then I have some hard truth, nothing in this journey is going to go perfectly to plan.

I wish there was a template for the startup journey—there are plenty of good books lists and some I would recommend, but the sooner you can embrace the imperfection and messy middle of entrepreneurship, the more you will be able to enjoy it.

And, please realize perfect is an impossible standard; learn from your mistakes. Don’t repeat them, and just embrace you’ll make new ones.

Do It Scared.

Growth happens outside of our comfort zone. Starting a founder journey means you will probably be doing so many things you never thought you would be—like emailing someone out of the blue, asking for customer feedback, constantly facing rejection (which you have to watch this Ted talk on this very topic rejection). That can spark a lot of anxiety.

Unlike school which comes with a rubric, founderhood is being in a space not only of constant flux but also agility. But, when you reach out to that potential user for an interview, or send that email, remember that this is a muscle that will get easier with time and practice. (And don’t forget to celebrate doing it scared!!)

Sometimes building a business can be both tricks and treats. Share what you would recommend or have even done yourself in the comments.

And have a question you’d like to submit? I would love to hear about your own QoD here, and it may be answered in a subsequent edition!

With a new month on the horizon, there are some things in the startup sphere you may want to keep an eye on:

• 1st Formations Business Scholarship- UK and USA - 1st Formations is offering five bursaries of £500 or $750 as a scholarship to support costs of students for those who are interested in entrepreneurship. (Free)

• MVP Launchpad: A Nontechnical Founder’s Guide- Online -This is a online series that my team at Venture Bento is collaborating with Skill Work on to support nontechnical founders in scoping, building, and understanding what an investable MVP looks like. (This is a promo for this paid event, but students can get 20% off with the code UNI20.)

• London Life Science Week- London/UK- If you are in the UK and interested in (or studying) techbio, AI, life science innovation, cancer tech, or the like, then be sure to drop into some of the events during London Life Science Week. (Mix of free/invite only events.)

• Hult Prize 2026- Global- Not too early to think about if you are in the social innovation space! It’s another great programme I have mentored for, and if you haven’t heard of it yet, it’s one of the biggest global competitions for student entrepreneurs. Check to see if your school has a society/club/meet up around it too. (Free)

If you have events, webinars, or interesting things in the ecosystem you think people should check out, just drop me a line.

If this has been useful to you or if you have feedback to improve, please drop me a quick line. Or share with a friend!