ThrowAwayFor30yo

• Felipe: I had saved up a little before moving to the west coast, but had to get another job for a bit and moonlight not long after
• Elena: It’s not easy. Emin and I bootstrapped for a long time. When I left my job, I was nervous but felt like we can make a difference and was committed to this. It’s a leap of faith. We are now getting cities to use our tools to clean up more effectively - and are certainly focused on making a business.
• Emin: I was lucky to have a good-paying job as a programmer (iOS) that allowed me to take this risk.

Felipe: Carefully sweeps up and categorizes smashed bottle

Felipe - I had 12k saved, before quitting my job and moved all my belongings to the west coast on a motorcycle, I crashed on friends couches, watched people’s dogs in exchange for a place to stay. It ran out after a few months and I had to sell some of my things and get another job that paid me. It isn’t something everyone can do, I don’t have kids or even a dog.

The second thing he did was have a beer.

Emin - I will never forget. Felipe drove cross country for four days straight and the first thing he did when he in SF was pick up litter.