Nothing prevents success as effectively as not even trying…

…because you believe that you’re not “founder material” — whatever that really means.

The psychological warfare of the patriarchy didn’t end when women got the right to earn their own money; it just got more sophisticated.

Instead of outright forbidding women from doing startups (because they legally can’t), men in suits built a tech culture from toxic masculinity, misogyny, and lies — designed to keep women from trying.

Here are 7 exemplary lies, the truth behind them, and where they meet reality:

💀 Lie #1: You need a technical co-founder.

Translation: You need a man who codes so he can ‘lead’ while you do everything else.

Reality: You need clarity, a roadmap, and a freelancer with a contract — not a babysitter in a hoodie.

💀 Lie #2: You must raise VC money to be legit.

Translation: We’re going to tell you that you’re not good enough until you give up.

Reality: Most startups can launch a minimal product with pocket-change investment.

💀 Lie #3: You have to quit your job and go all-in.

Translation: Being a responsible adult contradicts the aesthetic of hustle.

Reality: You can launch a product and start earning by investing 3-5 hours a week.

💀 Lie #4: If it’s not scalable, it’s not worth building.

Translation: If it doesn’t make billionaires richer, we’re not impressed.

Reality: Solving a real problem sustainably beats chasing infinite growth and infinite burnout.

💀 Lie #5: Startups are a young man’s game.

Translation: We’re terrified of competent women with life experience.

Reality: The average successful founder is 45. You’re right on schedule.

💀 Lie #6: You have to be part of the startup ecosystem.

Translation: If you’re not in the boy’s club — you can’t do startups.

Reality: Best innovations come from having expertise in your field, not experience with startups.

💀 Lie #7: Build it first and find customers later.

Translation: We can fail upward because we’re boys. You can’t.

Reality: Women don’t get nine lives in business — we build to succeed the first time.

Helping women build profitable startups from their ideas without the learning curve, without the trial & error — it’s my way of helping to dismantle the patriarchy.

If you’re ready to think about it — let’s meet for a quick brainstorming session.
Grab a spot here:

With love and purpose,
Ela Shapira