From Employee #1 to Co-Founder: The 8-Year Evolution of a Startup Journey

By Diellza, Co-Founder at AldAstra

The Early Days: In the Heart of a Startup

Nearly eight years ago, fresh out of university, I walked into the very first Sogody office. It wasn’t a corporate glass tower; it was an apartment-turned-office, shared by a handful of people with a mountain of ambition. I was a junior in every sense - inexperienced, but fueled by an undeniable energy to build something from the ground up.

Being one of the first employees in a startup meant there were no small tasks. Each of us wore multiple hats, and every effort was dedicated to moving the needle forward. Looking back, my 21-year-old self would hardly believe that nearly a decade later, I’d still be here, growing alongside the same core team. She certainly wouldn't have believed that the girl just trying to "figure things out" would eventually become a Co-Founder.

The Turning Point: Trust as a Catalyst

In a startup environment, you don’t wait for a roadmap; you build it as you go. My first major professional test came through a project with Samsung (Cheil) - a global giant versus a green junior.

I remember nervously asking Lorik if he’d be joining the meeting for support. His response changed my trajectory: "You know the work better than I do. You’ll do just fine."

That vote of confidence was my catalyst. He fully trusted my competence, and I was determined to honor that trust. From that day on, I never stopped pushing my boundaries. I moved from managing projects to leading teams and solving complex problems. I learned that growth refuses to happen in a safe zone—you have to stay uncomfortable to get better.

The Foundation: Values Over Technicality

Over the years, I’ve likely shared more lunches with the Sogody team than with my own family. These people shaped my formative years, teaching me that human decency is the ultimate pillar of a workplace; expertise and skills are built on top of it.

I’ve always believed that you are the average of the people you work with. I chose a "high average":

• From Tomor, I learned that technical skills are just tools. The real value lies in being a generalist with rock-solid logic who can dismantle any problem.

• From Lorik, I learned that engineering is only half the battle. If you cannot communicate effectively and build trust, your technical impact will always have a ceiling.

The Next Chapter: Co-Founding AldAstra

After years of collaborating with brands like Samsung, Unilever, and Thrasio, there came a natural point where I wanted to scale my impact further.

True to its culture of empowerment, Sogody invested in that vision. Together, we co-founded AldAstra alongside Synim - who has been a partner in this journey since the beginning.

Today, history is repeating itself. We are "figuring things out" again, but this time from the founder’s seat. We are navigating the SaaS world with the same grit and foundations we inherited from Sogody. My focus has shifted: I am no longer just building products that win; I am building a new generation of talent that is ready for whatever comes next.