Uncovering Layers: From Göbekli Tepe to Entrepreneurship

When I was a kid, I didn’t dream of being a doctor or an astronaut. Nope, I had more unconventional aspirations. I wanted to be an archaeologist—or, at one point, a war journalist. There was something about digging deep—whether it was into ancient history or a breaking news story—that really fascinated me. Fast forward to adulthood, and that curiosity never really left. So last summer, I convinced my husband to join me on a month-long road trip across Turkey.

How did I manage to convince him? Well, here’s a secret (well, not really a secret): the key to convincing men is through their stomachs. I told him we could sample the different kebabs from each region of Turkey (they really do have regional kebabs), and I promised we’d only stay in places with decent toilets. That sealed the deal!

From the colorful streets of Istanbul to the calm blue waters of the Aegean Sea, the misty highlands of the Black Sea region, and eventually the desert near the Syrian border, we explored Turkey’s diverse landscapes. But the real highlight for me? Finally crossing Göbekli Tepe off my bucket list. This isn’t just some old historical site—it’s the oldest temple ever discovered, predating Stonehenge by thousands of years. Standing among the intricately carved stone pillars, I was struck by the symbolism—different animals carved into the stone seemed to represent time and seasons: cranes, scorpions, and more.

Beyond the awe of its age, I couldn’t help but wonder: How many free POCs did they run before deciding to build this massive temple on this hill? Did they test out other locations first, maybe build a minimum viable temple before committing to the full structure? I can almost picture ancient builders arguing over the details. Were the wealthy hunter-gatherers objecting, saying, “This isn’t VC-backable” (and by VC, I mean Village Chieftains)? Were they asking for a pivot to SaaS or suggesting, “Why don’t we BNPL the whole temple-building process?”

It’s funny, but the process probably wasn’t that different from the challenges we face in startups today. Just like those early builders, we have to figure out prioritization when everything feels urgent and important. Do we work on the pillars first or the carvings? And when do we stop iterating and just build?

In a way, the ancient builders of Göbekli Tepe were like modern startup founders. They didn’t have Jira or stand-up meetings, but they must’ve had their own form of product development and task prioritization. Collaboration must have been key too, just like it is today. I often have brain-picking sessions with my co-founders, bouncing ideas off each other to find the right direction. It’s funny how much we rely on each other to make sense of the chaos and find clarity. I bet those ancient builders had similar moments, working together to figure out the details of this massive project.

Between being an archaeologist or an entrepreneur, I choose entrepreneurship—because I get to meet fellow hunter-gatherers. Except instead of hunting for food, we’re hunting for clients, and instead of gathering crops, we’re gathering revenue. Same principle, different era. And at least I’m not alone in this journey.

But there’s one thing I can’t stand: uncertainty. I need clarity to function, and it’s usually the first thing I aim for when tackling a project. Unlike archaeology, where you can accept the unknown, I need to know what we’re aiming for in business. But even when things aren’t clear, collaboration and persistence help me push through, because that’s what building is all about.

In both archaeology and entrepreneurship, it all comes down to persistence. Whether you’re unearthing ancient history or navigating market trends, you don’t always know what you’ll uncover—but the potential for discovery, whether it’s an ancient temple or a business breakthrough, makes it worth the effort.