Stashe.com

Here's a look at a start-up I came up with awhile back that my co-founders and myself included let life get in the way of — one of my favorite ideas I've ever designed and came up with called Stashe with the most talented dev team on the planet. We were 99.9% done. I won't go into too much detail on what it is, but it was a site for photographers like my good friend (and one of the greatest photographers/videographers in the world) Dean Bradshaw whose photos are shown in this comp.

Doing start-ups is no way an easy commitment. It's hard, exhausting, and wicked scary. It's not as luxurious as the world makes it seem. When people tell me their starting an idea, I get super excited, then my experiences sink in and I become super worried for them. I've seen it over and over here in the Bay Area. Friend after friend. Failure after failure. I've even started several companies, two funded, one backed by Y-Combinator, and all have failed due to lack of team commitment (from even myself) or speed — never because of the idea (never got far enough to test). Most people are just afraid of the idea failing but honestly, most people don't even get far enough to test it. That's scarier. Going into a new idea you gotta think "Whose most committed here? Are we all? Am I even committed?" You gotta be all in. Everyone. Or it won't work.

One thing I've learned is it's ok to put yourself out there and try new things, it's thrilling and you learn a ton. Every failure is a success IF you learn from it. But I don't recommend relying on other people to chase your dreams for you. With you, yes. For you, no. If you've got an idea, build it. Co-founders can/will come later. Everyone's dreams are different. If you believe in something, an idea, you chase it, even if that means on your own for a few months. If it fails, you then know you tried your hardest and didn't rely on someone else to meet you half way on your own dream. Eventually, yes, you might (most do) need a team, but not to get started. If you're waiting for a co-founder to start your dreams and can't find one, don't let that hold you back — just get started. It's how I created Epicurrence, I just built it. I got started, without any help and paid a developer to put it live. If it failed, it was on me. If I didn't start it, it was on me.

Go start your idea but don't let anyone hold you back.

Here's to hoping the Stashe team finishes the last 1% one day! Miss you guys and proud of what we've all done since.

More on Stashe soon.