Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in research and development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Matt Mireles, Founder and CEO of OASIS, located in San Francisco, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
OASIS AI is an iPhone app that translates thoughts into perfect writing in any format or language. Share anywhere in one tap. Knowledge workers use it to write emails. Creators use it to write blog posts and create content.
Tell us about yourself
I am a 4x entrepreneur with a penchant for taking big swings. I've had some success and a lot of failures. OASIS AI was a little side project of mine that took off unexpectedly four years after we started the company. I am motivated by the idea that the work I do every day––if we can scale it––has the potential to benefit all mankind. Communication is the most basic of human activities, and my job is to figure out how to empower every human being on the planet to be great at it. It's very special. I would not recommend my lifestyle to others, but for me, it's the best job I've ever had.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly, I feel like we are just getting started. We've raised $9M in venture capital since 2019, which has allowed us to get this far, but all the important stuff is ahead of us. I'd say my proud accomplishment so far is building an awesome team and a truly healthy, high-performance organizational culture where everyone is aligned and working together.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I can't turn it off. In my previous life, I worked as a 911 paramedic in New York City. I did shift work. When I wasn't working, I could totally tune out and have zero work responsibilities. That lifestyle is gone.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- The most important thing is the people. Who you choose to work with and how you organize/align them is the most important thing.
- Learn to develop good instincts and trust them. No one else has the context about your business that you do. Experts and advisors can help, but in the end, the decisions are yours to make and screw up or not.
- Do what you love because if you don't f*cking love what you do, you will quit when it gets hard. And it will always get hard. Sometimes, it will feel impossible. But if you love what you do, the pain will feel more like a sacrifice than just pain. No one wants pain, but love makes it bearable.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://theoasis.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mattmireles
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmireles/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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