The Startup Wife by Tahmima Anam

 

In the spring 2023, we read Amy's pick, The Startup Wife by Tahmima Anam. The novel is narrated by a young graduate student who falls in love with her high school crush and begins a business with him and his best friend. The story takes the reader through the fast-paced life-cycle of a startup, beginning with a nascent product idea (developed in the basement) to a full-blown company with hundreds of thousands of users across the world. Along the way, we see the main character struggle with her own role in the company, her assumptions about marriage, ethical decision making, and her own identity.

The premise of the book was actually something we all lived first-hand, having all met at a startup in the late 90s and early 2000s. Although the purpose of the book was to poke fun at startup culture, for some, reliving the startup scene was a bit too much. We reminisced about our many memories from our own startup experience and also had some interesting discussions about the narrator's perspective and attitudes about herself, her marriage, and societal roles and how these changed as her character developed. 

We spent the day outside at a park and enjoyed the beautiful weather, delicious dim sum, and wonderful company. In our many hours together, we relayed stories, supported each other in personal struggles, discussed plans for the future, and laughed and laughed. Now, we just need Karen and Liz. 

As investors consider the worth of startup ventures by evaluating revenue streams and growth rates, we have come away with something far more valuable: deep friendships that have lasted for decades and will see us through our entire lives.