Himanshu

What does success look like for you as a startup founder?

Success used to mean building a unicorn tech company—it was too fancy. Over time, interacting with other people building billion-dollar companies, my definition changed. Now, the question is: ‘Is this important? Should I spend my most valuable resource (time) on this?’ For me, success is solving a really important problem that matters. People care about personalization for health, and that’s where I find meaning.

What was going on in your life that made you first consider joining the residency? And what did that situation feel like for you, personally?

I’ve been working on startup ideas for nine months, and people said they don’t want it. Then you have to decide whether to stop doing it. It’s different from looking at it like you’re going to spend ten years on it. It was like, ‘Am I doing something wrong?’ The opportunity cost of exploring, I could bear. I wanted someone to believe in me—that’s why I was so into Athena. As a founder, I felt like I was always making decisions intuitively, often lacking clarity or good reasoning. It was difficult but sounded like an exciting journey to explore.

How did you first hear about Athena VC? And what made you think it might be the right fit for you?

I didn’t find Athena through the typical route. Muskan, from my college, reached out because she wanted to learn about integrating Antler’s practices into Athena. At the time, I was running out of money, so the idea of financial support caught my attention. But what truly made Athena stand out was the team—Rob, in particular. He had scaled a successful business, and during our discussions, I felt like I could trust him to guide me in my personal and professional growth. For me, it felt like the right place to explore and learn without the overwhelming pressure of getting everything right immediately.

Can you walk me through your daily life as part of the Athena residency?

My daily life revolves around the process and pace that Athena has introduced. It’s not about rigid schedules but rather talking to users and experts regularly. The expectation to present weekly updates keeps me consistent and aligned with my goals. The residency has enhanced my ability to handle ambiguity and make confident decisions.

Can you give me a specific example of a time working with the Athena team proved valuable to you? And what do you like best about being part of the Athena residency?

As founders, we work in a high-noise zone—lots of lack of clarity. That’s the difference, even in research you have a process, a direction. You have fears, and you have people who have built these things, sharing your thought process and hearing back. You get more clarity.

What sort of tangible impact has being in the Athena residency had on your life?

What has changed is the speed of what we’re doing. It’s not about an exact step-by-step guide—it’s about lots of theses together. When you’re stuck, it’s about what’s next to do. As founders, we work in a high-noise zone with lots of lack of clarity. Having people who’ve built these things share their thought process gives you so much more clarity.

What has been the biggest benefit you’ve realized in your involvement with Athena?

What has changed is the speed of what we’re doing. As founders, we work in high noise zones—lots of lack of clarity. That’s the difference: even in research, you have a process, a direction. Entrepreneurship has a lot of ambiguity. There are 5 other smart people working on the problem, and they haven’t been successful. You have to push forward to get clarity. Hearing from people who’ve built these things, sharing your thought process—it gives you more confidence.

What does that mean for you? The people in your life who matter to you?

Talking to users and experts weekly has become such a valuable structure in my life. It’s not just about me anymore—it’s about sharing what I’m learning and inspiring others to push through the ambiguity of building something new. It’s made me realize, ‘This is how you build something better,’ and it’s helping those around me understand the process, too.

If a peer asked you why they should choose Athena, what might you tell them?

I wouldn’t tell someone to choose Athena outright. I’d ask them to consider what they want to do. If they’re serious about building startups but haven’t yet built a multimillion-dollar company, then I’d say, ‘Try the process. See if you can follow it and grow.’ If it feels like something you enjoy, Athena can intensify that journey and make it a lot more fun while giving you the tools you need.