Building a startup during the day. Working full-time at night. Providing for my family while building something I believe in.
People often imagine that being a startup founder means running a company, managing employees, meeting investors, making big decisions, and celebrating business milestones.
But what does being a founder actually look like when you're still at the beginning of your startup journey?
What happens when you're still figuring things out, validating your business idea, looking for resources, and trying to turn a vision into something real?
For me, this is what building a startup looks like.
Welcome to my journey of building ByaHero.
Where the journey stands today
ByaHero is currently in its pre-seed stage. We're building a Transport Intelligence Platform designed to help commuters gain visibility into jeepney locations while helping transport operators and cooperatives better understand their fleet operations and passenger demand.
We're still working toward developing our product and preparing for our first pilot implementation.
Recently, ByaHero became part of CDO b.i.t.e.s. (Cagayan de Oro Business Incubation Technology Entrepreneurship and Startups), a Technology Business Incubator of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP).
Being part of this incubation program has given me an opportunity to learn, challenge my assumptions, and look at ByaHero from different perspectives.
Through the program, I'm learning different aspects of building a startup, including customer validation, business model development, market research, and product development.
One thing I'm beginning to understand is that building a startup is very different from simply having a good idea.
It's a continuous process of learning, testing, failing, and improving.
Morning: Building a startup from the ground up
My daytime hours are mostly dedicated to ByaHero.
There's always something that needs attention.
Sometimes I'm working on marketing strategies, preparing business documents, researching opportunities, communicating with potential partners, or reviewing what needs to happen next.
Other times, I'm working on the business model, thinking about product features, or figuring out how we can move forward despite having limited resources.
As a founder, you quickly realize that there's no single job description.
One moment, you're the CEO. The next, you're the marketing person, business development officer, researcher, or the person responsible for tasks that would normally be assigned to an entire department.
It's challenging, but it's also part of building something from the ground up.
Not every day involves major accomplishments. Sometimes, progress simply means getting one important task done.
And that's okay.
An unexpected lesson: Customer validation is harder than I thought
Recently, we had an activity at CDObites focused on customer validation.
Our task was to go out and interview our target market: commuters, jeepney drivers, and transport operators.
At first, I thought I already understood what we needed to do.
I had spent so much time studying the problems surrounding public transportation, understanding the challenges commuters experience, identifying operational difficulties faced by drivers and operators, and developing ByaHero as a possible solution.
I knew the problems we wanted to address. I knew what our platform was supposed to do. I was prepared to explain how ByaHero could help.
But I overlooked one important thing.
Getting people to listen to you is already a challenge in itself.
When you approach someone, introduce yourself, explain your company, and ask if they have a few minutes to participate in an interview, you quickly realize that not everyone will entertain you.
Some decline immediately. Some are too busy. Others are hesitant to talk to someone they don't know.
And there are moments when you walk away without getting a single interview.
I experienced something I hadn't really considered when I was busy planning the business and developing the solution: the countless small rejections that come with trying to understand your customers.
It was humbling.
I was so focused on the problems I wanted to solve that I hadn't fully appreciated the challenge of reaching the very people experiencing those problems.
It made me realize that entrepreneurship isn't just about identifying a problem and creating a solution.
It's also about learning how to approach people, earn their trust, communicate clearly, and listen without immediately trying to sell them an idea.
I also learned that customer validation isn't about convincing people that your product is good. It's about discovering whether your assumptions are actually true.
Sometimes, the answers you receive might challenge what you originally believed. And that's exactly why you need to ask.
That activity reminded me of something important:
You cannot build a customer-centered business if you aren't willing to step outside your comfort zone and talk to your customers.
A rejection doesn't necessarily mean your idea is bad. But it reminds you that having a solution doesn't automatically mean people will give you their time, trust, or attention.
And as a founder, you have to learn to accept that.
Wearing two hats: Startup founder by day, BPO employee by night
Here's something that people might not immediately see when they hear that I'm building a startup.
I'm also working full-time in the BPO industry at night.
While most of my daytime hours are dedicated to building ByaHero, I still have a full-time job to attend to when the night comes.
And there's a reason for that.
Building a startup, particularly at the pre-seed stage, doesn't guarantee an income. There are no assurances of funding, immediate revenue, or even knowing exactly when the business will become sustainable.
But life doesn't stop while you're building a company.
There are responsibilities, bills, and most importantly, a family that I need to provide for.
I cannot simply put those responsibilities aside because I have a dream of building a startup.
So, for now, I have to balance both worlds.
During the day, I'm working on ByaHero, attending incubation activities, exploring opportunities, and trying to turn an idea into a viable business.
At night, I go back to being an employee, fulfilling my responsibilities and making sure I can continue providing for my family.
It's not always easy.
Managing time, energy, and priorities can be challenging, especially when both require commitment.
There are moments when I wish I could dedicate all my time to ByaHero. There are things I want to accomplish faster, opportunities I want to pursue, and milestones I want to reach.
But I also understand that building a startup is a long game.
I have a responsibility to my family today while working toward a better possibility for tomorrow.
I'm not building ByaHero at the expense of my responsibilities. I'm building it while fulfilling them.
Not every founder has the opportunity to leave a full-time job and pursue a startup exclusively. For now, my reality is that I have to build while working, learn while earning, and take calculated risks without compromising the people who depend on me.
That's my journey.
The challenges nobody sees
Not every day is productive. Not every meeting leads to an opportunity. Not every idea works.
There are financial constraints, technical challenges, uncertainties about execution, and the responsibility of keeping the vision alive even when things aren't moving as quickly as expected.
There are also moments when I question my decisions, revisit my plans, and wonder whether I'm approaching things the right way.
But I've come to understand that building a startup is a learning process.
I don't need to have everything figured out today. What matters is that I'm willing to learn, make adjustments, and take responsibility for every decision I make.
I'm learning to focus on my own journey, understand my limitations, recognize my progress, and work on the things that need improvement.
Sometimes, it means going back to the drawing board.
Sometimes, it means accepting that an idea needs to change.
And sometimes, it means recognizing that the next step isn't necessarily building more features, but understanding my customers better.
I know there will be challenges ahead. What I can do is stay focused on the work, remain open to learning, and keep moving ByaHero forward, one step at a time.
Evening: Reflecting and preparing for tomorrow
At the end of my startup workday, I try to look back at what I've accomplished and identify what needs more attention.
Some days, the progress is visible. Other days, the biggest achievement is simply gaining clarity on what needs to happen next.
Then comes another responsibility: preparing for my night shift.
It's a different kind of transition, switching from building my own company to fulfilling my responsibilities as an employee.
And when the workday is over, there's still family life to attend to.
It's a routine that requires discipline, patience, and constant adjustment.
I'm still learning how to manage everything without losing sight of what matters most.
More than building a business
For me, building ByaHero is more than just starting another company.
It's about creating something that could make a meaningful difference in the way people experience public transportation.
But this journey is also teaching me something about myself.
I'm learning that being a founder isn't just about leadership, business strategy, or having the courage to pursue an idea.
It's about patience when things don't happen according to plan.
It's about humility when people reject your approach.
It's about listening when customers challenge your assumptions.
It's about responsibility when you have a family depending on you.
And it's about continuing to show up, even when the results aren't immediately visible.
We're not there yet.
ByaHero is still in its pre-seed stage. We're still learning, validating, building, and figuring things out.
I don't have a big office, a fully funded startup, or a team working full-time on the product just yet.
What I have is a vision, a problem worth exploring, a lot of things to learn, and the willingness to keep showing up.
I'm documenting this journey, not just the milestones, but also the struggles, lessons, rejections, decisions, and everything in between.
Because someday, when ByaHero reaches its next chapter, I want to look back and remember what it really took to get there.
Building a startup by day. Working to provide for my family by night. Building a future in between.
This is my journey as a founder.
And this is only the beginning.
One day at a time. One step at a time. Building ByaHero.
