Building in public — SW UK
The attempts, the ones that stalled, and what I'd do differently.
I'm Reuben. I'm 18, based in SW UK, and finishing my A-Levels in Mathematics, Biology, and Environmental Science. Alongside that I'm building in public — documenting the real work of becoming a startup founder, under my own name.
Most people my age are stuck consuming. Endless tutorials, courses, videos — and nothing to show for it. That's tutorial hell, and I was in it too.
I got out by building things badly in the open. I still don't have it figured out, so I write down what happened instead of what should have happened.
That includes not leaning too hard on this site. Nobody worth studying got there by following someone else's path closely. Take what's useful, then go and get it wrong yourself.
A mental health company. A dropshipping store. A Discord moderator hub. A stint as a Fortnite streamer. None of them lifted, and looking back the reason was mostly the same: I hedged. I did the safe half of the work and waited to feel ready for the rest.
This year I'm cutting the friction instead — automating my life admin, fixing how I store what I learn, and building an audience — so there's more room left for the actual building.
The mission
I want to sacrifice my time and energy to build a better future for humanity.
Long-term, I dream of building scalable businesses that can fund education and infrastructure for children in low-income countries — giving the same opportunity to those with the drive but not the resources, held back by their circumstances, not their mindset. The future is not so far away, and it starts with the actions you take in the present moment.
Everything I learn goes out publicly, under my own name, for people who want to build and don't know where to start.
I'm not trying to be the last thing you watch before you start — I'd rather be the first, and then be unnecessary.
An AI app that takes the tedious life-admin off your plate — the scheduling, chasing, and forgettable tasks that pile up. Not started yet; next on the roadmap. When I build it, it'll be in public like everything else — from the very first line.