Yin and Yang represent both ends of the spectrum of existence. Between them, there are all possibilities. All strengths. All weaknesses. If you’re an eternal optimist who sets out on a journey as a founder, to solve a problem larger than yourself, you can only ever be at one side of the spectrum at a time.
Through focus and velocity, you can switch sides. But maybe finding a strong opposite half to build a company with is the better solution.
I am not an engineer.
I am no Bruce Wayne, I am no Tony Stark.
I am not able to fix a snapped belt, jammed motor, or identify a mechanical problem by a slight humming noise on a 200 square foot mobilized plant wall.
But Danen is an engineer. Not by trade, but by curiosity and a willingness to learn through failure and iteration—the best type of engineer. Danen can build a Batman gadget, or an Iron Man suit.
Danen has the ability and execution to bring something from concept to concrete.
Danen does what’s needed to be done, fixes what needs to be fixed, and builds what needs to be built. He calls out my bullshit. He’s the first person to know when something breaks, which is often heavy on a mind.
As we started the journey of building Nebullam about 4 years ago, we found a CEO/CTO rhythm through trial and error.
I could say that building Nebullam has been sunshine and rainbows, but it’s been more downs than ups. Yet, through literal fires, floods, team members leaving, and running out of money multiple times, progress continues.
The most progress has been made while going through traumatic experiences together.
We’ve had huge blowups on each other. We’ve had huge fights. We’ve had to flip flop who gets paid during certain months.
But we’re still here. We play to our strengths and, now more than ever, we know our weaknesses. Those weaknesses are filled by adding A players to the team. Together, we’re going after a championship.
That championship? Launching Nebullam Farms in thousands of cities throughout the US, and then the world.
The only way we win is with complimenting strengths.
Yin and Yang.
Grow happy plants. Sell happy plants.
Build. Sell.
Create. Distribute.
Strategy. Execution.
Internal. External.
For every audience I speak to, Danen is back at the farm bringing our vision to life.
For every tour we host, that individual sees the now as I walk from location to location in the farm, but not the past dozens of iterations and failures Danen had to build by hand and little rest.
For every investor who has passes on us, Danen is the first to remind me there’s a million more who could bring more than just a check to the table.
While building a company, you’re going to go through endless situations which test you, push you, stretch you thin, crush your hopes, raise your hopes, level up your confidence, make you feel on top of the world, and remind you of why you’re building what you’re building.
Danen, giving me a pep talk before YC’s Alumni Demo Day
It’s better to go through these situations with someone else. Not alone. I’m grateful to be building Nebullam day after day, with Danen.
Do you have a co-founder?
Are you in search of a co-founder?
Do you need a new co-founder?
Maybe YC Startup School’s co-founder matching tool can help.
Keep building and, if possible, build together.