I quit college at 21 to run my AI company. Sacrifices like working up to 80-hour weeks while I had cancer were worth it.

Tech Insider : Business
David Kobrosky
David Kobrosky dropped out of his studies at the University of Michigan to start Intros AI.

Courtesy of Sam Goldin

I'm a former Tesla engineer who runs my own company. Here's what I learned at Tesla that made me a better founder — and what it didn't prepare me for.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment, Technology
a man in a blue shirt stands in front of cans
Angus Rittenburg.

Courtesy of Angus Rittenburg

I'm a CEO pivoting my business abroad because of tariffs. I'm treating the US like hot lava.

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Matthew Hassett and Abbey Phaneuf
Abbey Phaneuf, marketing director at Loftie, and founder and CEO Matthew Hassett have worked to pivot the company to focus on sales outside the US.

Courtesy Loftie

I felt pure happiness when I was laid off from Microsoft after 14 years. It was the green light I needed to start my own business.

Tech Insider : Business
headshot of a woman in a black shirt and blue blazer
Tatiana Teppoeva.

Courtesy of Tatiana Teppoeva

I'm the CEO of an AI company based in the US and India. Seattle and Bengaluru have pros and cons — here's how I make it work.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Technology
Left: Siddhant Masson; Right: A tech park in Bengaluru
Masson launched Wokelo AI in 2023.

Courtesy of Wokelo Inc.

Phoebe Gates and her Phia cofounder raised $8 million at 23 years old, and it taught them 3 big lessons

Tech Insider : Business, Technology
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni
Phoebe Gates (right) and Sophia Kianni (left) met at Stanford University.

Zhamak Fullad/Phia

I moved from Australia to San Francisco to build my startup from a hacker house. It's been humanizing and comforting.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Annie Liao, Build Club founder, sitting with a laptop at a cafe.
Startup founder Annie Liao said she's always wanted to live in San Francisco.

Photo courtesy Annie Liao

My company holds a 'Thinking Week' every quarter, where we cancel normal work. The payoff is huge.

Tech Insider : Business
Tim Huelskamp in the woods
Tim Huelskamp, cofounder and CEO of 1440, encourages employees to hike or walk in nature during the company's quarterly "Thinking Week."

Courtesy Jennifer Huelskamp

I'm a Japanese founder who moved to Bengaluru to grow my startup. I love India's energy and how hard people work.

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Travel
Reiji Kobayashi headshot
Kobayashi moved to India to expand his microfinancing startup.

Reiji Kobayashi

Live-in offices, air mattresses, and stacks of ramen: Inside the apartments of 6 young tech founders

Tech Insider : Business
Josh Sirota's air mattress is pictured on the floor of the Eragon office.
Six 20-something tech founders took Business Insider for an apartment tour. That includes Josh Sirota, who sleeps on an air mattress.

Josh Sirota

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