In this episode of The First, Brian Ip, founder of OmniHR, delivers a candid and highly relevant conversation for early-stage founders navigating the complexities of launching a startup.

Tracing his path from investment banking and venture capital to founding a regionally nuanced HR platform, Brian offers an unvarnished look into the mindset, decision-making, and execution challenges of building from zero. What makes this episode particularly compelling for early founders is Brian’s vulnerability in sharing both the missteps and wins of Omni’s early days. He dives into how he validated the problem space without an MVP, resisted the pressure to scale prematurely, and overcame self-doubt during periods of slow traction. His thoughts on localizing products across Asia, managing a distributed team, and evolving pricing models give practical insight into building for diverse, under-served markets. Brian also speaks to the emotional resilience required in the founder journey—discussing moments of existential doubt, the challenge of balancing ambition with team well-being, and how he learned to be transparent without creating panic. For founders wrestling with when to start marketing, how to think about product-market fit, or how to hire and retain top talent without a playbook, this episode offers firsthand clarity. He closes with reflections on building long-term defensibility in a competitive space, Omni’s vision as an employee operating system, and how to partner with investors who understand your timing and market context. For early-stage builders looking to hear from someone who’s still in the arena, this conversation is packed with actionable takeaways and refreshingly honest insights into the grind and growth of starting up.