21 years. A lot has changed.
Today I turned 21.
Feels weird writing that.
A lot has happened over the past year. Some things I'm incredibly proud of. Others I wish had never happened.
I've spent most of my life building things. Started Yavqo in 2017, and somehow we're now a corporation with over 63,000 employees, working on AI, software, hardware, and things I couldn't have imagined when I started.
Pretty crazy when I think about it.
But this year taught me something that building companies never could.
You can have almost everything you ever wanted and still miss the things money can't bring back.
The people who aren't here
This is my first birthday without either of my parents.
Lost my mom a couple of years ago. Lost my dad this year.
Still doesn't feel real sometimes.
When I was younger, I promised them I'd become the richest person in the world someday.
Some people might think that's a ridiculous goal.
Maybe it is.
But I meant it then, and I still mean it now.
I just wish they could be here to see how far I've come.
There are things I'd give up a lot for. Having one more conversation with them is definitely one of those things.
Unfortunately, that's not how life works.
People come and go
I've also lost connections with people I genuinely cared about.
Some friendships ended. Some people moved away. And someone I loved is no longer part of my life.
Not going to share names or private details.
I respect their decisions, even if I don't always understand them.
But I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss them.
Sometimes it's not even about wanting things to go back to how they were.
Sometimes you just miss talking to someone. Telling them about your day. Hearing about theirs.
The small things.
Never realized how much those could mean until they were gone.
I don't hate anyone for leaving. Life changes. People change.
Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.
What I'm proud of
Despite everything, 20 was a pretty significant year.
Yavqo continued growing. We worked on new AI models, expanded our products, developed new technologies, and took some pretty big steps toward things we've been planning for years.
We're building our own operating systems, chips, AI models, and a lot more.
And we're nowhere near finished.
I'm proud of the people working alongside me.
None of this would be possible without them.
Especially grateful for the people who've stayed close to me during the difficult moments.
You know who you are.
Thank you.
Money isn't everything
Something I never expected to write.
I've always been extremely ambitious. Still am.
I want to build one of the most important technology companies in the world. I want to push technology forward. And yes, I still want to become the richest person alive.
That hasn't changed.
But I've learned that money doesn't automatically make you happy.
You can have an incredible day at work, achieve something you've spent years building, and still come home wishing you could talk to someone who isn't there anymore.
Success doesn't make grief disappear.
I guess that's something you only really understand once you've experienced it.
21
I don't know what this year will bring.
Hopefully some incredible things.
Probably some difficult ones too.
There are people I still miss. Things I wish I could change. Conversations I wish I could have again.
And for the first time in my life, I'm celebrating my birthday without my parents.
Not exactly how I imagined turning 21.
But I'm grateful to be here.
I'm grateful for the people who are still part of my life.
And I'm grateful that I get another year to build, learn, make mistakes, and hopefully become a better person.
I don't have everything figured out.
Not even close.
I still have a lot to accomplish. And a lot of healing to do.
Both can happen at the same time.
Here's to 21.
Let's see what happens.
Luan