Feeling like you need to have it all figured out before starting something big?
Think again.
In this episode, Annie sits down with fellow Forbes U30, Times Young Powerlist and Y-Combinator alumna Ahana Banerjee, to unpack her path from her childhood physics student to founder of the award-winning beauty tech app Clear.
Born from her personal experience with cystic acne, Clear isn’t just a skincare app, it’s a mission. Ahana shares what it really takes to build something meaningful while staying grounded, including the hard lessons from hiring mistakes, the invisible weight of academic pressure at Imperial College London, and why she believes discomfort is essential for growth.
Tune in to learn:
- Why building the right team can make or break your startup
- The role of privilege, family support, and perspective in shaping purpose
- The mindset shift that helped Ahana stay motivated through self-doubt
Follow Me on:
Instagram: @lowtogrowpodcast
TikTok and YouTube: @lowtogrow
https://www.lowtogrow.com
SAY HI at lowtogrowpodcast@gmail.com :)
Follow Ahana @ahanabanana and @getclearapp
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Ahana Banerjee and Clear
03:26 Ahana's Journey: From Physics to Entrepreneurship
06:40 The Birth of Clear: A Personal Mission
09:28 Challenges of Entrepreneurship: Risks and Realities
12:16 Finding the Right Team: Co-founders and Hiring Mistakes
17:28 Building Trust and Culture in a Startup
24:24 Support Systems: The Importance of Family and Relationships
26:55 The Role of Family Support in Building Confidence
28:20 Navigating Challenges in the Founder Journey
29:33 Overcoming Academic Pressure and Self-Doubt
35:33 Finding Strength in Entrepreneurship
37:40 The Importance of Discipline and Resilience
38:28 Embracing Discomfort for Growth
41:38 Self-Awareness and Mental Health
Please Note: This podcast is for general awareness and educational purposes only, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For support, visit https://www.mind.org.uk/ for free resources.
Popular Podcasts
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!