[gumby]

It sounds like you feel like a failure because your company came to an unsuccessful end, but to me you are a a success.

In fact you're an unusual success, for starting and then running a business for several years. That is quite rare! That sounds like six years of success to me.

I hope you can find a way to put that understandable feeling aside because you have learned many valuable skills and I assume have a perspective on development that extends far beyond what most developers have (what makes code really worthwhile in the field, what customers care about, markets, etc). In fact because the business didn't make it in the end I'm sure you spent quite a bit of time looking at what wasn't working.

I don't know what your business was or where you're located (some countries are quite negative towards businesses that didn't succeed) but it sounds like you have a lot of good skills and experience and I am sure there are many people who value that. If you're located in the US, such experience will be especially welcomed in SV, SF, NY, and even Boston.

[perfect_loop]

tbh I have mixed feelings about the situation. I knew from the beginning that the risks were high and truly pushed hard and tried to make it work; that gives me a lot of comfort. On the other hand I made mistakes too, especially in the earlier days, being young and unexperienced...

[cloverich]

I've worked with many people over the years who are somewhat passive about their missed opportunities. They talk about trying to start a business, and never go for it. They'll live their _entire lives_ with that feeling of regret that they never tried. you will not. Though I treasure my colleagues and friends, I wish I had more people like yourself in my work environments.

Also 31 is very young. I know people that started their first successful business in their 40's and imho they seem pretty happy to me. You've got lots of life ahead of you, and plenty of time to live it.

[gumby]

That's OK: everybody is inexperienced until they have experience.