Going it alone

Ah, the startup life. It's the dream, right? At least, that's what the online articles and inspirational podcasts tell you. “We’re crushing it!” is the standard response you hear from most entrepreneurs. While building 9Zero has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life so far, it was often a lonely and rocky path.

Here I was - hunched over a laptop, working late into the night, surrounded by a graveyard of coffee mugs and the ever-present hum of the heater keeping me company. While many days were filled with commitments and support from the community, there were just as many failures that felt like a 1000lb weight got dropped on my shoulders. Despite the constant support of my amazing cofounder Duncan Logan, loneliness crept in, insidious and suffocating. The initial spark of innovation started to wane, replaced by a dull ache of isolation. Bleary-eyed and demoralized, I craved exactly what 9Zero was building: a space buzzing with passionate individuals and teams, each with their own climate-focused venture, but aligned with the shared purpose.

We are so much more than coworking. We are a community of doers that rally together. A home for all the potential that would otherwise dissipate into the nether. We bounce ideas off fellow members, learn, grow, and celebrate victories as if they were our own. Brainstorming sessions became a flurry of creativity, fueled by shared coffee and late-night potluck discussions. Suddenly, it’s not a lonely battle anymore, but a collaborative effort, propelled by the collective energy of the community.

Today, 9Zero is alive and kicking. It's a far cry from the solitary dream I once nurtured. The isolation has been replaced by camaraderie, the self-doubt by a network of support. We're still a work in progress, but now we're a we, not just a lonely me.

Building a startup alone may seem heroic, but the truth is, it's lonely and ultimately less effective. Shared struggles are shared solutions. The collective brilliance and support system ultimately opens resources and opportunities that cannot be found in isolation.

It’s about us. Sign up. Come join and let’s do something great together.

We are 9Zero.

We are citizens of change.