Metana wasn’t my first startup, but it was the first time I found product-market fit and built something that truly resonated with the market. From June 2022, when Metana first started generating revenue at $15K per month, I knew this venture was different. The journey to that point—and beyond—was full of lessons, challenges, and some unexpected twists that ultimately set us on the path to exponential growth.
Hitting $100K in Three Months: A Sign We Were Onto Something
We grew faster than I could have imagined. Three months after that first $, we hit $100K in revenue (trailing three months). That was a big moment—it was like a signal that Metana wasn’t just another online course or bootcamp. We were building something people actually needed. We were training people for real Web3 jobs, and it was working. This early traction showed me that this wasn’t just a hot trend we’d lucked into; it was the start of something real, something with staying power. And that belief kept us moving forward.
The Bumpy Road of Early Success – Hostile Takeover
Not long after we started making traction, I faced a wake-up call: one of our instructors tried a hostile takeover. This was brutal. It put my leadership to the test and made me realize how vital it is to have control and alignment in the team, especially in those vulnerable early stages. I had to get serious about solidifying my leadership and protecting what we were building. Looking back, as rough as it was, that moment set the stage for a stronger foundation at Metana. – Lost everything, almost all the money in the bank, students, and a friend I called the closest and a mentor. It was genuinely a hit on the balls.
That experience hardened me up fast. It wasn’t fun, but in a way, it made me double down on what I wanted Metana to be. It pushed me to take the mission seriously, to protect it, and to be intentional about the kind of company I wanted to build.
Moving from Scrappy to Strategic: The Shift in 2023
In 2023, we started to hit a different stride. By the end of the year, we’d brought in half a million in revenue, but it wasn’t just about making more money. I shifted from short-term survival mode to actually planning for the future. We needed structure, a solid foundation, and a roadmap to grow beyond those early wins. So we started putting in systems, improving our operations, and focusing on the parts of the business that could sustain long-term growth.
This was the year I started really learning the difference between “scrappy” and “strategic.” When you’re in survival mode, you’re just trying to get through the day. But when you start thinking strategically, you’re looking at where you want to be next year or even five years down the line. That shift let me start thinking about how to turn Metana from a bootstrapped operation into something much bigger.
Doubling Revenue in 2024: Seeing the Power of Alignment
This year has been about continuing that growth, and so far, we’ve doubled revenue from 2023. The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that when you have the right alignment—product, team, and market—growth almost becomes natural. When all these pieces work together, things just start to flow. And now, as we head into 2025, 10x growth doesn’t seem crazy—it feels possible. For the first time, it feels like we’re building not just for today, but for where the industry is going.
Playing the Long Game: Why It Works
Playing the long game pays off. Startups put so much pressure on hitting those quick wins, but I’ve learned that sustainable growth isn’t about “instant success.” It’s about resilience and patience. The long game lets you build something people actually care about and gives the right opportunities a chance to align. When you’re committed to a vision and keep showing up day after day, the growth follows.
Looking back, I can see how every challenge, every misstep, and every tough lesson helped build the foundation we have today. Choosing to stay patient and focused on the bigger picture has been the best decision, and it’s why we’re ready for what’s next. It’s been a wild ride, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that this is just the beginning. So here’s to staying focused, thinking long-term, and letting the best opportunities line up. There’s a lot more to come, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.