I am SO busy right now — likely the busiest I’ve ever been, so let’s keep this short.
If you’re new here, welcome! I started this blog to make it easier for people to get to know me and to open up more conversations. Subscribe to join the ride, and if you’ve got questions (or just want to talk), drop me a line at pointone@barbaros.ca
Coffee’s on me if I take more than 24 hours to reply.
If you want to learn a bit more about me — check out this intro to both me and this blog:
This month was packed — I honestly wouldn’t be shocked if I forget a couple things.
Some reflection on September:
Every morning I woke up this month, I found myself feeling nothing but a concoction of gratitude, excitement, and happiness. I mean how many people can say that about their life? I’m truly so lucky to be surrounded by incredible people — from family to friends to co-workers.
It is with full humility when I say that I’m so grateful for everything I have in life right now. And by no means is it to say “I’ve made it,” or “this is it!”
It is to say that I’m lucky.
I’ve truly found myself in such a great position; I’m not just talking about work // opportunity-wise, but I’m talking about the people I’m around.
If I felt one thing this month it would be gratitude. This months newsletter is entirely in honour of all of the amazing people in my life. This spans from family, to friends, and co-workers.
I really felt the need to get that off my chest — now we can head into the update.
Interning @ Wealthsimple:
Gun to my head: I wouldn’t be able to think of a bad thing to say about Wealthsimple.
My hour-thirty-long commute to work doesn’t have a single moment where I second-guess my choice to come here — in fact, it only has moments of excitement. The number of nights where I left past 11:00pm didn’t have a single feeling of regret either, it only has feelings of obsession for the work I was doing.
I love the everything, but more importantly, everyone here. It’s truly such a special community with an even better culture. One of a kind.
The Launchpad group is amazing — in case you haven’t heard of it, Wealthsimple chose 4 high school graduates to take a gap year and intern there. You can see us above! All three of these people are so sharp, seriously. This is what I meant when I talked about the amazing people I’m around.
Apart from the Launchpad group, I’m currently working on AI automation software for the AI experiences team where I’m working under a founding team member from CloudKitchens. The first thing I asked him was completely unrelated to work and was about working with Travis Kalanick haha. But in all seriousness, he is an amazing guy, and the team as a whole is so bright.
What I love most about Wealthsimple is the pro-builder environment and the company values — which isn’t just to say on paper, it’s true.
On my first day I reached out to Diana McLachlan, the Chief People Officer at Wealthsimple (unrelated: she will be the fastest reader you’ve met), asking about an idea with their product team, and if so, can I help work on it. She got back to me right away and said they recently did an acquihire for Emily Luk, CEO + co-founder of Plenty, and connected me to her.
When I said earlier that this months newsletter is in complete honour of the amazing people in my life that I’m grateful for; Emily is one of those co-workers I’m grateful for. Although in full humility and honesty, she’s been more of a teacher // mentor than co-worker haha.
She has consistently gone out of her way to let me learn from her. Working on projects under her, shadow calls, etc. How many brilliant people out there would do that for an intern? Not a lot. And I couldn’t put it in words as to how grateful I am for it.
Apart from work here, I’ve met even more amazing people, currently trying to start a soccer team, and will likely join the running club (should I join the pickleball club? My mom + dad would be so proud).
**Co-founder** @ Antifragility Labs:
Most notable thing this month with Antifragility Labs was that I brought on a co-founder. If you’ve read prior monthly updates his name’s familiar — Nitya — a very talented person but even better friend. Great guy and super sharp. Extremely excited to see where this goes.
In addition to expanding, I won a couple of pitch comps — all cash going towards API credits ha. Got some really cool interest from VC firms as well — one of which has agreed to somewhat advise Antifragility Labs and help us grow (for no equity!).
My thesis for Antifragility Labs is working out great right now. The tl;dr: there’s a massive bubble in GEO, and the market is incredibly volatile. I think it’s too early to bet on singular software solutions when it’s a cat and mouse game. Which is why we’re a software-first agency — building new tools every week for our clients and adapting quickly. Learning a lot from this and loving it.
Applying to YC! If you have any tips, I would love it! Hit me up: noah@antilabs.ai
Side Projects // Everything Else:
Currently working on a side project to help optimize how the world currently desalinates water. Something I’ve realized is there’s many unicorn startups out there, but only a handful make an impact. My goal is to become financially free as soon as I can because only then can I control my time and try changing parts of the world. I’m not financially free by any means yet, but I’m interested in water desalination, so I’ll build a side project in it. I’m hoping to participate in the XPRIZE comp.
Released a bunch of new essays (subscribe!!!) — writing has been fun, I can’t do it as much as I want to though unfortunately.
SAT + university applications: not the best part of my day haha. Since I was born in California there might be a way for me to pay in-state tuition for Berkeley (if I get in of course, send your good luck wishes please I’ll need them haha). If you have any tips, please send them my way I’m in desperate need I’m doing this so last-minute. Email: pointone@barbaros.ca
Building out a tool for self-publishing authors — a bit early to speak too much on this, but I think it’s a really underrepresented // overlooked market with a huge opportunity waiting to be pounced on with AI -- I hate that I’m using those words together but it’s true.
Working on a mini-project for one of the hottest startups in SF right now. I’m directly reporting to the founder, who is just such a brilliant mind and clear thinker. I don’t want to say too much about this, but this person is beyond cool and if I told you some of the stuff they’ve done // accomplished your jaw would be on the floor.
Back to gratitude
Work has just been fun — everything is fun. This month every feeling comes back to gratitude. I’m grateful especially for Rachel Zimmer (Co-Founder & CEO, Simple Ventures) who went completely out of her way to recommend me for Wealthsimple. Had it not been for her, I wouldn’t have applied to the program, and I’d be at university right now. That’s not to say it’s a bad-case-scenario, but imagine what would’ve happened had she not done that? Because the average person wouldn’t.
There’s very few people in the world who go out of their way for people and expect nothing in return, and somehow I know so many. Rachel is a golden example of one of them.
I’m so grateful for everything I have in life right now, the time you took to read this is one of them.