My Review of 2024: Change, Confidence, Betrayal, and the Unexpected

As I look back on 2024, it’s clear that change was the main theme. But it also intertwined with other lessons.

Part 1: The Year of Change

For Q3 2023 to Q1 2024, I was in Saudi Arabia, pursuing a plan to start my SaaS business in the MENA region. I thought I had a solid strategy, but reality hit hard. There were fundamental flaws I couldn’t ignore. Cultural nuances, market dynamics, and operational realities clashed with our assumptions. But I’m glad I faced those challenges because they forced me to confront my assumptions and refine my understanding of how things work.

By March, I was back in Taiwan, reassessing my next steps. The idea of joining a tech company or startup crossed my mind—I wanted to learn, to build skills, and to stabilize. Then I connected with Michael, now my co-founder, and everything shifted. We started discussing his thesis on brainwaves and psychiatry. It was an exciting idea: taking something that had completed clinical trials and transforming it into a business with real impact.

However, the journey wasn’t smooth. We faced regulatory hurdles, market constraints, and a hard reality check about life sciences in the US. We had to pivot—not because the work was hard, but because it wasn’t aligned with our life goals.

Part 2: Learning Confidence

Another theme of 2024 was confidence—not the loud, showy kind, but a quieter, more grounded sense of self-assurance. Confidence isn’t about being able to do everything; it's about knowing my limits and leaning into collaboration.

I realized I don’t need to master everything—AI, UX, engineering. What matters is building a team with the right people. And together we could achieve far more than I could alone.

As for strength, I’m still figuring it out. But if I had to define it now, I’d say it’s about helping others become more resilient. Strength isn’t about control or force; it’s about creating an environment where people can thrive and do their best work.

Part 3: Facing Betrayal

2024 wasn’t without its lows. Early in the year, I handed over my dev shop business in Taiwan to a local partner I thought I could trust. That trust was shattered when he drained the company’s funds—including my own—and disappeared. He never even showed up to court.

Part 4: Embracing the Unexpected

If you’d told me a year ago that I’d end 2024 in Boston, working on a web3 project, I wouldn’t have believed you. But here I am, and it’s a testament to how unpredictable life can be. This unexpected turn has reshaped my aspirations for 2025. The unexpected isn’t just inevitable—it’s often where the most growth happens. I feel optimistic about what’s ahead.

Lessons

Looking back, a few key patterns emerge:

1. Change is constant – It’s uncomfortable, but it’s also necessary.
2. Confidence grows from great collaboration – Successful company isn’t about being a solo genius; it’s about finding the right people and building something great (and fun) together.
3. Trust instincts – When authority fails or the world feels chaotic, your gut often points you in the right direction.

The defining moment of the year was partnering with Michael. Working with someone world-class has elevated everything. It’s reminded me that to deserve great partnerships, I need to continually level up.

If there’s one overarching lesson from 2024, it’s this: survival and vision are two sides of the same coin. I need to iterate fast to survive in the present while keeping a clear eye on the future.

Here’s to 2025: stronger, smarter, and ready for what’s next.