As we’ve been working on our startup investor pitch these past few weeks, we couldn’t help but wonder… is expat life and entrepreneurship really all that different?

Think about it. In both, you start with a dream. You leave behind the familiar – comfort, routine, a guaranteed paycheck – for a vision. Whether it’s the pursuit of a better quality of life or the desire to do something meaningful, impactful or innovative, you take the leap. You throw yourself off the cliff into the unknown, hoping the chaos will eventually make sense. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. But you learn to navigate it better and grow stronger through the process.

We first moved abroad as little girls, following our parents. But as we grew up and relocated again a couple more times, we realised each move built something inside us – adaptability, curiosity, resilience, optimism, and maybe a little craziness. Let’s face it, after a few not-so-fun moves, we kept going. So, we have to be a little crazy, right?!

Starting a business or developing a startup is no different. The stakes are high, the rewards often uncertain. Excitement, doubt and fear coexist – just like in expat life.

But what keeps us all going is our vision. The deep belief within us that we just can’t shush anymore. When you truly believe in what you’re doing, nothing can stop you. Not the visa process, the business lawyer, the culture shock or the five-year business plan. You do it every day because you believe in it. You believe it’s worth it. You believe it’s going to be fabulous, even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Little did we know growing up that the skills we developed as expats would translate into entrepreneurship. That’s why we keep saying: you never start from scratch. You bring with you your past experiences, your skills, your values, your mindset. You have more tools than you think, and you can use them in your new life abroad.

Knowing what needs to be done, how to do it, and having the right approach. That’s what we had in mind when we developed our mobile app SYLA (available on both Android and iOS devices) – offering expert-led video content that combines practical knowledge across all aspects of life abroad and mindset. It’s what we wish we had when we first started our own expat journeys. That’s the foundation of everything, whether it’s life abroad or entrepreneurship.

So, here’s our question to you: What’s your cliff? What are you standing on the edge of, unsure if you should take the leap? And if you do jump, will you trust yourself to build wings on the way down? Because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about – choosing to leap, even when you don’t know if the landing will be soft.

And maybe, just maybe, in those moments of free fall, you’ll realise something magical: you’re not just surviving – you’re flying.