I Almost Built Facebook… Then I Lost Everything

The Hard Truth About Missing a Billion-Dollar Opportunity

In my 20s, I helped build a fast-growing social network—before Facebook was even a thing. We hit 750,000 users. It was working. Then I blew it.

This video isn’t just a story about losing everything. It’s about the decisions that looked smart in the moment but destroyed the long-term vision. I focused on quick wins, optimized for ad revenue, and stopped listening to the people who mattered most—our users. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg doubled down on product and community. The rest is history.

If you’ve ever chased the wrong goal, or if you’re afraid your startup is one misstep from falling apart, this story is for you.