“What’s it like to be in a start-up? Why join one? How do you know it’s going to be successful? You’re really brave. Oh, it’s just contract jobs you’re doing?”
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard those questions (or versions of them) from friends, family, or random strangers, I’d probably have enough to fund the start-up myself.
To answer the never-ending list of questions, it’s simple: because I’ve always wanted to.
Now, the field I chose to pursue-Cybersecurity and Web Development-wasn’t always the plan. From the time I was ten, I knew my purpose was to help and care for people. Naturally, I assumed that meant the medical field. So, I went all in: Nursing, Pre-Med, Health Sciences-you name it. I dedicated years to studying and chasing goals I thought I wanted. But somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t passionate about any of it. I didn’t feel fulfilled, and I couldn’t picture another two to four years doing something that didn’t light me up inside.
The IN between
So, I took a leap and a gap year.
I spent that year working in restaurants, driven by a quiet sense that I was meant for something more, even if I couldn’t yet define it. Then, about eight months in, I stumbled across a Cybersecurity Intro Bootcamp through UC Boulder. I had no idea what I was getting into, but something about it intrigued me.
First lesson in: I was hooked.
Concepts clicked, challenges felt fun, and for the first time in years, I was genuinely excited to learn. I immersed myself fully-participating, answering questions (even when I was wrong), and loving every second. I knew then that I’d found something I was truly passionate about.
Begin The Journey
Fast-forward to June 2024: I joined the ASU Cybersecurity Bootcamp, learned from an incredible instructor, and connected with classmates who shared that same spark. After I graduated, I thought stepping into a job would be easy. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t.
The job market has been oversaturated, competitive, and difficult to step into. I faced rejection after rejection-sometimes for being overqualified. (Make it make sense.) But I didn’t give up. I kept studying, applying, and trusting that something would come through.
Eventually, it did-sort of.
A former classmate reached out about an opportunity he’d found through a community college (you should read his story; it’s seriously inspiring). We kept in touch, and one day he asked if I knew much about web building or development. I had dabbled a little for fun but nothing serious. He encouraged me to dive deeper.
He began landing contract jobs through his network, helping small businesses build websites. Watching him sparked my curiosity, and I dove in myself. That moment marked the start of what I call my ‘wonderment of the unknown’ phase.
I was learning, building, creating-with purpose.
Eventually, my friend Shane introduced me to his new venture, a start-up called Sinister Gate Designs (Cool name, right? Definitely one you don’t forget.) He offered me a position on the team, and I was ecstatic. The freedom, creativity, and alignment with my values-it all just felt right.
How to Keep Going
The first month was amazing. I landed three clients right out of the gate and loved every minute of it-helping small businesses bring their visions to life through tech and design. But like most start-ups, the honeymoon phase didn’t last forever. We hit the inevitable lull: no clients, no new leads, budget hiccups-you name it. And to top it off, the government shutdown hasn’t exactly helped.
At that point, you have two choices: throw in the towel or keep going.
I’m not much of a quitter, so I chose to keep going.
I’ve been diving into animation tools like GSAP (GreenSock Animation Platform), which adds professional-grade animations to websites and apps. Think smooth transitions, fades, and bounces that make a site come alive-without slowing it down. It’s powerful, fun, and another piece of the puzzle that keeps me excited about what I do.
So, to answer the question once and for all:
What’s it like being in a start-up? It’s chaotic, thrilling, unpredictable, and sometimes a little terrifying. But it’s also deeply rewarding, full of growth, and exactly where I’m meant to be.
Because when you’re chasing something you love, the only real risk-
is not taking it.(And hey, if all else fails, at least I’ll have one heck of a story for my “About Me” page. 😅)
Written by Kaeli Rollins Web Development and SOC Analyst for Sinister Gate Designs November 2025