Almost three years ago, the author left Facebook to join a fledgling startup with just five employees, motivated by a desire to learn more quickly in a smaller team environment. Initially, the author feared technical challenges, such as a failed database migration without the safety net of a large infrastructure team, and worried about scaling issues due to limited user numbers. However, these fears were largely unfounded, as the startup's early adopters were forgiving and engaged, willing to provide feedback and help improve the product. The reality was that technical challenges arose more gradually, allowing the author to build expertise over time, exemplified by a two-year journey to solve a database issue caused by a leftover replication slot. This experience highlighted the stark contrast between launching products at big tech firms, where user expectations are high and immediate, and building at a startup, where gaining users and their trust is a more gradual and collaborative process. Ultimately, the author stresses that while the work is challenging and becomes increasingly difficult as a startup grows, the technical hurdles are manageable with a willingness to learn and adapt.