From Breakouts to Beauty Tech Breakthroughs: Building Clear (YC) with Ahana Banerjee
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
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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.
