Rejected from Every Startup Competition — Why Founders Feel Like Losers

In this Startup With episode, I’m brutally honest about the side of SaaS entrepreneurship no one wants to show — rejection, burnout, and feeling like a loser. This month, I lost a business partner, got rejected from every startup competition (including Estonian Startup Day - my favorite country, didn’t care), and questioned everything I’ve built.If you’ve ever felt like maybe you’re the problem - this talk is for you. We’ll go through what “tough days” really look like for founders: when motivation dies, imposter syndrome kicks in, and yet you still have to show up.You’ll learn how to recognize when it’s just one of those days, avoid doing damage, and find small ways to get your strength back. This is a video about survival - not polished success stories.⸻⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Introduction: When everything goes wrong00:31 – Losing a partner & financial pressure01:25 – Rejected from Estonian Startup Day02:04 – Rule #1: Acknowledge your state02:50 – How to avoid spreading negativity03:56 – Side activities that help relieve stress04:40 – Bright colors & small rituals that heal05:22 – Founders are losers? Owning the label06:09 – The mindset to survive your hardest days06:24 – Final thoughts: This too shall pass⸻🎙️ About the Host Julia George - serial founder, creator, and storyteller. Start Up witch podcast is raw, unfiltered video series about what it really means to build a startup when things don’t go as planned. Focused on mental health, emotional resilience, and the truth behind entrepreneurship.🌐 Instagram: @startup.witch💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliageorgi/⸻💡 About Startup Witch Startup Witch is a storytelling platform that strips away the “success theatre” of the startup world. It’s for founders who’ve been rejected, doubted, or burned out — and still keep building. Real talk. Real emotions. Real entrepreneurship.