The Zikra CEO bootstrapped a startup. At 18, I was leading 3-5 developers (all older) on a stack I'd never used: Laravel 10, React, Inertia.js. Our mission? Build a cheap SaaS with everything an SMB could need. We learned, built, and shipped altogether.
What I Built
Contacts: Simple directory system for managing contacts with custom fields support. Central repository for all contact information.
Scheduler: Calendly-like booking management system that seamlessly integrates with Google Calendar for automatic synchronization and conflict prevention.
Support: Ticket management system platform with thread-aware email integration. Supports sending and receiving emails with full conversation context.
Forms: Google Forms-like application for creating dynamic forms with complex signature-like fields, validation rules, and submission tracking.
Help Center: Internal wiki for employees and external public knowledge base. Centralized documentation platform with role-based access and search functionality.
Key Wins
Shipped a big set of modules in 8 months while learning the stack and team-leading simultaneously
Frontend lead resigned; I spearheaded all technical efforts until after new senior developers were onboarded
Discovered that managing people is both unexpectedly challenging and immensely valuable, with a high potential impact on outcomes
The Lesson
Leadership isn't about knowing everything - it's about learning fast enough to unblock others. Age is irrelevant when you can architect confidence, not just code.