Green-broke Jun 25
Hello equible friends,
Om Swastiastu from Bali, Indonesia — where there aren’t many horses, and that’s exactly the point. I’m switching off for a couple of weeks so this issue is a brief one.
Welcome to the tenth issue of Green-broke, a monthly newsletter for those interested or invested in coming along for the ride with me. This is a monthly update for you and a routine check point for me, keeping you informed (or more likely entertained by the ups and downs) and me accountable.
The end of June marks a significant time for most businesses — equible included. It’s equible’s first birthday, and my first work anniversary. What a merry-go-round.
One year in the arena 🎠
First, shout out to this community for watching the circus in real time. I hope it’s been an entertaining ride so far. I’ve certainly benefited from your engagement, hype, and feedback — I appreciate you all for holding up your end of the bargain.
As for my end of the bargain, let’s start with some metrics — a humbling and slightly humiliating way to reflect on this checkpoint:
12 months into the journey
9 months of Green-broke
$0 in revenue
$0 in capital raised
$10k in-kind investment
$12k of my own money invested
200 working days
320 social media followers
5 on the waiting list
These numbers rub me the wrong way. But I committed to building in public with this newsletter — saddle sores and all. While these figures still feel like an open wound, they represent something important: the groundwork. They capture an immeasurable part of the journey — for both equible and myself.
ICYMI, I reflected on the last twelve months in [this post]. Inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s Citizenship in a Republic speech (better known as The Man in the Arena) — and a nod to arena-based horse sports — the caption sums up how the journey has felt. The carousel points to the intangible parts: starting before I was ready, navigating the messy creative process, and trying to stay human while building technology.
Here are the top five things I’d tell myself if I could wind back the clock:
You have the discipline to show up every day. Worrying about it is a waste of energy.
You’ll lose financial and social wealth, but time and health wealth are better.
Get used to loneliness. You can’t outperform it.
This is the biggest test of your why.
Be both a workhorse and a frolicking filly.
Ultimately, this is my way of saying equible isn’t where I want it to be on paper — yet. But I’m still saddling up. I’m [more] broke, a little broken, but not broken in.
After a spell
I’ll be back in the workhorse string in no time, so here are a few deliverables to help keep me in the saddle for another season:
Finish the full business plan
Improve the pitch deck and break it into mini decks
Build the waiting list (target: 500 users, 50 indicative listings)
To stay committed to the long game, I’m also aiming to make the most of the Advance Queensland Female Founders Co-Investment Fund, which wraps in June 2027 🥕
We’ve reached the tail end of the tenth issue — I hope you’ll keep joining me for the ride, especially now that I will be a little fresher from the spell paddock.
Best,
Emily