2024: The Year I Survived Love, Loss, AI, and Sleep Deprivation

Where the only thing more prone to hallucinations than AI is my sleep schedule.

ai

What happens when you mix AI, fintech, and an over-caffeinated solo founder with a perfectionism problem? Well, you get a year like 2024: chaotic, exhilarating, and weirdly transformative. Between hopping across 25 cities, dodging burnout, and obsessing over AWS bills at 3 a.m., I’ve learned more than I ever signed up for.

Here’s the thing: startup life isn’t all TED talks and tech unicorns. It’s raw, relentless, and often ridiculous. I’ve cried over customers leaving like it’s a breakup, fought sleep deprivation like a badge of honour, and questioned my sanity more times than I can count. But in the midst of all that madness, lessons were learned—sometimes painfully, sometimes hilariously.

These reflections are a peek behind the polished LinkedIn posts. They’re not advice, just battle-tested wisdom from someone who’s been there and is still figuring it out. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to survive, thrive, or at least not completely combust in this crazy world of startups, read on.

1. No One Cares Like You Do (and That’s OK)

Running Askria feels like raising a feral child. No one else lies awake wondering if the ML pipeline will break or if the AWS bill will eat your runway. People leave; some don’t deliver. You want to scream, “Why don’t you care?!”—but you learn: your obsession isn’t their obligation.Eventually, you realise it’s your mountain to climb. My takeaway? Cry in private, execute in public.

2. Firing Feels Awful, Even When It’s the Right Call

Letting someone go feels like pulling out your own tooth—necessary, but painful. I’ve fired people I believed in and watched trusted teammates walk away. You question everything: loyalty, your judgment, and whether you’re secretly a monster. But then i realised maybe not all exits are betrayals. And it’s business, but it’s personal too.

3. Customers Are Not Just Numbers

Losing a customer feels like a breakup. “Was it me? Was it them? Could I have saved this?” Balancing emotional attachment with practicality is hard. It’s like dating—they ghost, you grieve, but eventually, you move on... hopefully with a better onboarding flow. Detaching while improving is an art—and I’m still finger-painting.

4. Play the Long Game, Sprint with No BS

Running a startup is like running a marathon while sprinting every mile. There’s zero tolerance for slow execution, nonsense bureaucracy, or people who don’t deliver. Yet, you have to pace yourself. The trick? Know when to push and when to breathe.

5. Security: The Weight You Can’t See

“Security” isn’t just a product feature—it’s existential. When building for other companies, every breach or vulnerability feels personal. You’re not just protecting data; you’re safeguarding trust. Security weighs heavy—whether it’s a firewall or your own doubts at 2 a.m. I check locks twice these days—both physical and digital.

6. The Formula of Love, Suffering, and Giving

Startups force you to love deeply (your mission), suffer willingly (those sleepless nights), and give relentlessly (your energy, sanity, and weekends). If you’re not ready for all three, this ride isn’t for you. Find people who do all three too—they’ll become your sanity anchors.

7. Work Obsession: Madness or Method?

I almost became a monk before launching Askria. Clearly, I opted for the monk-less madness. Three days straight without sleep? Done it. Jet-lagged yet still leading a 5 a.m. standup? Yep. I’m chasing dopamine disguised as “building a decacorn.” The real madness? Loving it

8. Idealism Is My Superpower—and Kryptonite

I’m a perfectionist. It makes me a great product manager, but a nightmare to work with sometimes. I want things done right, fast, and better than anyone imagined. Idealism fuels innovation but can also burn bridges if unchecked. Managing that balance? Still learning.

9. The Art of Pivoting Without Losing Your Mind

Startups are a continuous dance of change. You pivot products, strategies, and sometimes your whole business model. The lesson? Stay flexible, but rooted in purpose. Changing your mind isn’t weakness; it’s survival.

10. Rest Is a Strategy, Not a Weakness

I used to think rest was for the weak. Turns out, it’s for the smart. Pushing 24/7 is unsustainable, and burnout is a productivity killer. Rest isn’t optional. It’s strategic. And yes, I’m learning to say "no" to work and "yes" to sleep. Slowly.

10. Disappointing Friends & Family: The Silent Cost

“I’m busy” has become my default response. Birthdays, dinners, weddings, catch-ups—I’ve missed them all. It’s hard to explain startup life to those who don’t live it. But true friends and family understand, even when it hurts. Just don’t make it a habit—relationships matter too.

11. AI, FOMO, and Focus

I’ve been in AI since 2016 when it wasn’t sexy. Fast forward to 2024: AI is everywhere, and suddenly everyone is an "expert" The noise is deafening. Sometimes, I wonder: Will AI replace me? Will I become obsolete in my own company? The answer? Maybe. But if AI frees me, what’s next? Existential dread or ultimate freedom?

12. You Are the Sum of What You Love, Give, and Endure

I recently came across this idea in an article. This year taught me that everything—life, work, and relationships—comes down to three key things: what you love, what you give, and what you endure. It's like the holy trinity of surviving—and thriving—in the startup world.

Love what you’re building. Sure, there are days when your product feels like a toddler throwing tantrums, but that passion is what keeps you from hitting “pause” and walking away.

Give more than you take. Founders, we’re all guilty of hoarding ideas, time, and energy like they are limited edition collectibles. But in reality, the more we give, the more we get back—just not always in the way we expect.

And finally, endure. Endure without losing yourself. Strength isn't about becoming this invincible superhero. It's about stumbling through the fire, singed but not burned, and somehow finding the courage to keep walking. Vulnerability is a weird superpower—it doesn’t look strong, but it carries us forward, one messy step at a time.

So, here’s to 2024—a year full of chaos, growth, and the kind of lessons that stick to you like spilled mocha on a white shirt. Building Askria (and surviving the AI/fintech noise) has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, and I’m still holding on, trying to figure out how to enjoy the ride without losing my lunch.

But hey, we all make it to the end of the year somehow, right? So, here’s to the next chapter—hopefully with less chaos and more sleep.

See you at the starting line of 2025.

Hi, I’m Adhrita Nowrin, founder of Askria, here to share my journey of surviving the highs, lows, and endless challenges of building a startup. In the coming weeks, I’ll be discussing a range of topics including product engineering, machine learning, designing the future of AI agents, and offering insights into fundraising, financing options and the operating systems that keep founders and funders on track.