One of the hardest parts of building a startup is not coming up with ideas.

It is not even finding talented people.

The real challenge is finding people with the skills, character and patience to look beyond immediate monetary returns and see what something could become.

As a founder, I have many ideas, sometimes probably too many. Some are straightforward; others are ambitious enough that explaining them can be harder than imagining them. When you can already see where all the pieces might eventually connect, it can be frustrating when others only see the unfinished pieces sitting on the table.

But I have learned something important: you cannot expect everyone to see a future that does not exist yet.

And that is perfectly fine.

The Hardest People to Find

Over time, I have spoken with close friends, acquaintances and people I have met who possess qualities I thought could contribute to ONEORVE.

The conversation often changes when I explain how we are building it.

ONEORVE is currently self-funded. I have deliberately chosen not to rush into external investment simply because funding is available or because that is what startups are supposedly expected to do.

Why?

Because investment is not free money.

The moment you accept someone else's capital, you also accept expectations. Investors may reasonably expect milestones, growth, accountability and eventually returns. Funding can accelerate an organisation tremendously, but it can also change its priorities.

There may come a time when external investment makes sense for ONEORVE. But I would rather reach that point after we have established our foundations, understood what we are building and developed people capable of protecting its purpose.

For now, we have something extremely valuable: the freedom to build patiently.

Looking Beyond Immediate Returns

This is where finding the right people becomes difficult.

Tell someone:

"Come work with us. There is no guaranteed salary today, the journey may take years, and success is not guaranteed."

Unsurprisingly, that is not exactly the world's greatest recruitment pitch. 😄

And I don't blame anyone for saying no.

People have bills, families, careers and responsibilities. Wanting to be paid for your time is entirely reasonable. Choosing financial certainty does not mean someone lacks ambition or vision.

But there are also people at particular stages of their lives who have some time and capacity to explore something beyond their regular work.

Those are the people I hope to meet.

People who can look at something small today and ask:

"What could this become if we built it properly?"

Ownership Instead of a Conventional Paycheque

At this stage, ONEORVE cannot promise conventional fixed remuneration for these developmental roles.

Where appropriate and subject to proper agreements, approvals and vesting arrangements, what we can explore instead is equity participation through shares.

That changes the relationship.

You are not simply completing tasks for somebody else's company. You have the opportunity to become an owner and participate in the value we collectively create.

Of course, shares are not guaranteed future wealth. Startups carry risk. Equity may increase in value, remain unchanged or even become worthless. Anyone considering an equity-based arrangement should understand that clearly before participating.

I don't want people joining ONEORVE because somebody promised them they would become rich.

I want people joining because they believe what we are trying to build is worth building.

If financial success eventually follows, we should be able to share in the value we created together.

What Are We Actually Looking For?

You don't need to arrive with an impressive title or twenty years of experience.

Experience can be gained. Skills can be developed. Knowledge can be shared.

Some qualities are much harder to teach.

Integrity. Curiosity. Compassion. Reliability. Humility. Courage. The willingness to learn.

And perhaps most importantly, the ability to think beyond:

"What do I get today?"

towards:

"What can we create tomorrow?"

That doesn't mean sacrificing your livelihood for ONEORVE. In fact, I don't expect people to abandon their full-time jobs to join us at this stage.

Work. Study. Build your career. Live your life.

If you have meaningful time and energy left and want to use some of it to create something different, perhaps there is a place for you here.

You Don't Have to Know Everything

This message is especially important for younger people reading this.

You may be 18, 21, 25 or 30 and think:

"I don't have enough experience to join a startup."

Don't underestimate what you can bring.

If you have useful skills, bring them.

If you have knowledge, share it.

If you have ideas, challenge ours.

And if you don't know something, come prepared to learn.

People who demonstrate capability, character and commitment over time may also have opportunities to take on greater responsibility and eventually participate in ONEORVE's future leadership.

Leadership should not simply be handed out because someone has been around the longest.

It should be earned through stewardship.

Beyond Singapore

ONEORVE may have been founded in Singapore, but good people are not confined by geography.

You could be in Singapore, elsewhere in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, or somewhere so remote that your neighbour is probably a goat. If we can collaborate effectively and you genuinely believe you can contribute, geography should not automatically exclude you.

Technology has given us the ability to build teams that previous generations could barely imagine.

We should use it.

Perhaps You Can See It Too

I know ONEORVE will not appeal to everyone.

It shouldn't.

Building something from an early stage involves uncertainty, experimentation, setbacks, disagreements and plenty of moments when we will probably wonder what on earth we are doing.

But there will also be opportunities to learn things you may never encounter in a conventional job, to help shape projects from their beginning, contribute ideas that actually influence direction, develop leadership capabilities and potentially look back years later knowing:

"I helped build that."

That is the kind of person I am hoping to find.

Not simply talent.

Not free labour.

And certainly not someone attracted by promises of quick money.

I am looking for people who can see possibility before there is proof, and who have the character to help turn that possibility into something real.

If you have skills, knowledge, curiosity and some time to contribute; if honesty, compassion and responsibility matter to you; and if the idea of building an enterprise that balances commercial sustainability with meaningful social and environmental impact resonates with you, I would like to hear from you.

Whether you're experienced or just beginning your journey, reach out to me here or through LinkedIn and start a conversation.

You don't need to see the entire road ahead.

Sometimes, you just need to believe that something worth building lies at the other end, and be willing to take the first few steps with us.

ONEORVE | Founder