Not long ago, he was at the helm of his own startup—one of the co-founders steering a venture in the healthy food and beverage industry. Alongside two friends, he wore multiple hats and immersed himself in every aspect of the business. From marketing campaigns and customer queries to logistics, compliance, and finance, he navigated it all without external funding. They learned the ropes on the job, adjusting to challenges as they came, holding the business together with grit, late nights, and hope.
But eventually, reality intruded. They hit a crossroads: either chase funding they weren’t prepared for or come to terms with the fact that their startup wasn’t going to expand the way they had envisioned. With personal finances stretched thin and no clear growth path ahead, the others decided to walk away. Left alone, he was forced to pivot—not to another venture, but to the job market.
The Harsh Realities of Reentering the Workforce
Transitioning from founder to job applicant was far more difficult than expected. He began applying for roles, engaging in numerous interviews, and speaking candidly about his journey. Although many conversations started on a positive note, they ended in rejection—each time, the feedback was a variation of the same theme. Some employers felt he lacked specific industry experience. Others couldn’t understand how his entrepreneurial background aligned with their structured roles. Some deemed him overqualified, while others simply couldn’t find the right fit.
He began to realize that while employers seek stability and clear-cut resumes, startup founders often represent the opposite: unpredictable, wide-ranging experience that doesn’t easily slot into predefined boxes.
Skills Built Outside Traditional Frameworks
Despite the rejections, he doesn’t claim to know it all. He isn’t seeking a top-tier executive position, nor is he expecting accolades for having built a company. What he wants is a fair opportunity to contribute and grow.
His resume might not follow the conventional path, but his skills are rooted in lived experience. He has packed orders, dealt with delivery complaints, responded to customers directly, taught himself design tools and website development, understood consumer psychology, learned the science behind food products, and pitched to skeptical investors. Everything was self-taught, from crafting pitch decks to managing operations—without the benefit of AI or automation tools. And when things fell apart, he stayed back to fix them and start over.
Stranded Between Two Worlds
He now finds himself in a liminal space—too entrepreneurial for rigid corporate roles, yet lacking the narrow domain expertise for specialized ones. He spends his days reaching out to former contacts, messaging friends, and asking for guidance or introductions while quietly wondering if wanting just one chance is asking for too much.
The Quiet Side of the Startup Story
This post isn’t an emotional outburst or a plea for sympathy. It’s simply a voice from the side of startup life that rarely gets attention—the part that doesn’t end with headlines about acquisitions, funding rounds, or viral LinkedIn posts.
Sometimes, the journey just concludes without applause or fanfare.
And in that silent ending, he hopes someone out there who’s been through the same transition might understand—and maybe even respond. Because even in uncertainty, knowing you’re not alone matters.