The Birth of YSYS

this is my fourth attempt writing this blog and tbh, i’m tired. i was worrying wayyyy tooo much about it being perfect and people liking and not being judged on my grammar, but … i need to tell the story because it’s not about me but a community and a vision a lot more bigger than my insecurities.

i’ll keep the trajectory short — on the 21st feb at 2:30am i decided to create a whatsapp group with all the amazing people i had met over the past 12months in the startup ecosystem. i sent a message to everyone on my contact list asking if they would like to join, and to my surprise the majority of people said yes. its’s been three weeks since its inception and honestly, its one of the most inspiring whatsapp groups i’m part of — everyone in the group is genuinely supportive and willing to lend a hand — ‘pushing each other like they pushed stormzy’. (private joke)

i’m not sure what the platform is going look like over the next few months (still working this out)— but i don’t think it matters where the platform is because thats not what defines the community. so what does? after speaking to a few peeps in the group i knuckled it down to the following three:

content — sharing real and open content about startup life, documenting rather than creating.

culture — paying it forward and celebrating wins.

community — bringing great people together*

it’s so funny because i started off with the intention to write a blog post on what led me to create #YSYS, listing my motivations and my lessons learned “me me me’ … but what this really is — is a post to say thank you to all the amazing people i’ve met in the ecosystem who have one way or the other inspired me through their story of perseverance, drive and hustle and i want say thank you — thank you #YSYS.

❤ beka, james, thelma, daniel, akua, farida, bola, julian, efoss, zai, eric, ezra, elizabeth, rikki, yvette, joe, rachel, sam, clevan, tanesha, andy, paris, yommy, eni, jermaine, lola, tolu, monique, ray, rishi, sam w, tambo, edward, amos, yaz, chika, josiah, caroline, saidat, aj, shamisai, lymell, adbiba, kwame, ayo, fay, ebi , christine, gerald, livi, tolu d, chico , gee, gerald, hayley, vyctorii, deborah, barbora, and emanuel.

• if you would like to get involved or share your story hit me up at debbie@startupstoriesworlwide.com or @ysyslondon

Edit : * community used to be “breaking down the traditional barriers to networking”