April 1, 2025
My path from identifying a problem to launching a startup was anything but straightforward.
As someone with an international background, my journey incorporated unique perspectives that became sources of innovation.
Through my experience founding and shutting down Trvlar, a travel connection app born from my expatriate experience, I’d like to share valuable insights that might help other aspiring entrepreneurs, regardless of their background or their venture’s ultimate outcome.
Your Unique Experience Is Your Greatest Asset
Growing up in Saudi Aramco’s international communities gave me a perspective most entrepreneurs lack.
My experience of forming global connections and then seeing them dispersed across continents became the foundation for a business idea that addressed a challenge I believed many others faced.
Key Takeaway:
Instead of trying to emulate other successful business models, examine your own unique experiences for pain points that might represent overlooked market opportunities.
The problems you’ve personally faced are often shared by others who would value a solution.
Casual Connections Can Become Critical Partnerships
What began as a simple lunch reconnection with a university friend evolved into a business partnership.
This highlighted how maintaining relationships, even casual ones, can unexpectedly lead to valuable collaborations.
Key Takeaway:
Nurture your network without immediate expectations. The classmate you grab coffee with today might become your co-founder tomorrow.
Approach networking as relationship-building rather than opportunity hunting.
Test Assumptions Through Conversation
When the initial concept for Trvlar emerged, we might have dismissed it based on assumptions about existing platforms like Facebook. Instead, we tested our hypothesis through conversations with potential users.
Key Takeaway:
Your initial doubts about a business concept should be tested through market research, not internal debate.
Seek external validation through conversations with your target audience before either pursuing or abandoning an idea.
Find the Universal in the Personal
While my initial concern was that the idea might only appeal to “third-culture kids” with international backgrounds, our research revealed the concept had broader appeal.
Many people develop geographically dispersed networks through education, career changes, and relocation.
Key Takeaway:
When your business idea emerges from personal experience, look for the universal human need within your specific situation.
The most successful personal-problem-to-business transitions address challenges that extend beyond your immediate demographic.
Create Solutions That Enhance Existing Behaviors
The Trvlar concept was designed to enhance something people already value—authentic connections during travel—rather than trying to create entirely new behaviors.
The app facilitated planned serendipity rather than forcing artificial interactions.
Key Takeaway:
The most easily adopted innovations make existing behaviors more effective or enjoyable, rather than requiring users to learn entirely new habits.
Identify the friction points in behaviors your target audience already values.
Conclusion
My journey from Aramco expatriate to travel-tech entrepreneur shows how personal background shapes innovation thinking, regardless of outcome.
While Trvlar wasn’t a unicorn, the entrepreneurial process itself generated valuable insights and growth.
For entrepreneurs from non-traditional backgrounds, leverage your unique experiences rather than minimizing them. Your different perspectives often reveal market opportunities invisible to others.
By combining personal insight with market testing, you can identify unique solutions, even when challenges prove difficult. Each entrepreneurial journey contributes to both personal development and business knowledge.
What personal challenges have you faced that might represent overlooked opportunities?
The exploration process alone might transform your professional path in unexpected ways.