We often say “we’re building a startup” — it’s a big word. Maybe I’m not using it the right way. But what I want to share here is the story that’s been driving my team and me for over a year now.
It’s 2024. It’s been almost four years since I finished my first degree: a technical diploma in networking and telecommunications. During that time, I met some amazing people — some of whom are still close friends. Among them: Eliott and Tom, two people I deeply care about. Together, we dreamed of one day living off our passion by creating our own product.
That’s how we decided to build a team of four, including Eliott’s girlfriend. We had highly complementary skills: one person strong in front-end but also comfortable with the back-end, another highly skilled in pure back-end development, one with strengths in design, communication, and marketing… and then me, a bit of a wild card, with general knowledge in everything except design.
We started brainstorming ideas, drafting a business plan, exploring what excited us most. And one day, we decided: let’s build an app.
Building something with friends sounds like a dream on paper — but in practice, it’s a serious challenge. Especially when each person lives in a different city: Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon. For those unfamiliar with French geography, that’s 4 to 5 hours of driving between each city. Meaning: we never saw each other.
Still, over time, the motivation started to drop. It’s tough to stay driven when you’re building something brand new, far from your comfort zone, and doing it remotely.
Then one day, we made a bold decision: let’s organize a bootcamp. We booked a remote villa in the middle of the forest. Nothing but glass walls and quiet surroundings. The nearest restaurant? 45 minutes away. But the space was perfect for our goal: work, and nothing else.
For four days, we gave it everything. 9am to 11pm. No distractions. And I swear — for anyone passionate about their craft or product, it was one of the most fulfilling experiences ever. A suspended moment where everything made sense.
I remember turning to Eliott and saying: “Dude, this is it. This is the life.” What we experienced there was exactly the kind of life I want to live. Building something I believe in, with people I care about, in an environment that reflects my values. Even if I earned half as much as I would in a stable job — it would be worth it a hundred times over.
There’s a quote I love: “If you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.” And that bootcamp was exactly that. Doing something unfamiliar — and feeling a wild wave of motivation surge through me.
Once again, this article doesn’t have a “business” purpose. If there’s one thing I want to say, it’s this: Take chances.
What’s the worst that could happen? Losing some money? Okay. But you’re still human. You’re still standing. You still have your values, your vision, your long-term drive. And that’s what matters.
Even if this project doesn’t succeed, I’m proud of what we built. And deep down, I truly believe it: We’re building a real startup.