Your first team: a mentor, a co-founder, then interns

Short answer: start with a mentor and a co-founder, then add interns for early execution. Hire full-time only when revenue can sustain it.

A mentor first

A mentor gives you something you can't get from inside the business: perspective. Someone who has failed and succeeded can save you months by spotting the mistake before you make it.

Then a co-founder

A co-founder with complementary skills shares the load, the risk and the hard days. Choose for values and commitment before skills — skills can be learned, misaligned values rarely fix themselves.

Interns for early support

Students looking for real experience can handle research, social media, outreach and operations. Give them structure, a clear project and real feedback — and they often become your first employees.

Full-time hires when revenue allows

Hire when recurring revenue can carry the salary and the role is clearly defined. Hiring too early is one of the fastest ways to burn through savings.